Mizoram: ZPM, MNF, Congress release candidate lists for upcoming LADC polls

Aizawl: Mizoram's ruling Zoram People's Movement (ZPM), main opposition Mizo National Front (MNF), and the Congress on Wednesday released the names of their candidates for the upcoming elections to the Lai Autonomous District Council (LADC), one of the three autonomous district councils in the southern part of the state.

Polling for the 25-member LADC will be held on December 3.

ZPM president Lalliansawta announced the names of 25 candidates during a function held at the party office in Aizawl.

He said the party had formed an eight-member search committee to scout and study the best contenders for the LADC polls, as about 116 people had expressed their willingness to contest.

He added that the party carefully selected the final 25 candidates by secret ballot.

MNF president Zoramthanga also announced the names of the party’s candidates for the LADC polls at a small function held at the MNF office in Aizawl.

The party will contest all 25 seats in the Lai council.

The opposition Congress also released the names of 10 candidates on Wednesday.

Congress spokesperson Lallianchhunga said the party would contest all the seats and release the names of candidates for the remaining 15 seats later.

The BJP, which has decided to contest the upcoming LADC polls, is yet to announce its candidates.

BJP media convener Johny Lalthanpuia said the party would finalise its list in consultation with the central leadership in Delhi before making it public.

According to the schedule the Mizoram State Election Commission announced on November 7, the commission will hold polling for the LADC elections on December 3 and count the votes on December 9.

The last date for filing nomination papers is November 14, while candidates can withdraw their names by November 17, the poll panel said.

According to the final rolls published in September, 56,873 voters, including 29,019 women, can exercise their franchise in the LADC polls, where officials will use Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

In the last LADC elections on December 4, 2020, the MNF, then the ruling party in the state, won 20 of the 25 seats, while the BJP and Congress secured one seat each, and voters elected three independent candidates.

The term of the present council will expire on December 18.

The government created the LADC in 1972 under the Sixth Schedule for the Lai tribal people.

It has 25 elected members and four nominated members. Its headquarters is in Lawngtlai, Mizoram’s southernmost district, which shares borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh.