ZPM, MNF to announce LADC election candidates in Mizoram

Aizawl: Mizoram’s ruling party, Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), and the main opposition, Mizo National Front (MNF), will announce the names of their candidates for the upcoming Lai Autonomous District Council (LADC) elections on Wednesday, party sources said on Tuesday.

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

Party sources said ZPM president Lalliansawta will announce the party’s nominees at a function at the Aizawl office at 11 am on Wednesday.

MNF media cell secretary Lallenmawia Jongte said that party president Zoramthanga will also declare the names of the MNF candidates for the upcoming LADC polls on Tuesday.

The BJP and Congress, though both have decided to contest the council polls, are yet to schedule the announcement of their nominees.

Congress spokesperson Lallianchhunga said the party will announce its list of candidates after the Election Commission declares the Dampa bypoll results on November 14.

More than 75 percent of over 20,000 voters cast their votes in the by-election to the Dampa Assembly seat in Mamit district on Tuesday.

State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Dr. Lalrozama said a total of 34.38 percent of voters had exercised their franchise in the bypoll till 11 am.

BJP media convener Johny Lalthanpuia said the party will first refer its list of LADC candidates to the central leadership in Delhi before making a formal announcement after obtaining approval from the party high command.

The Mizoram State Election Commission announced on November 7 that polling for the 25-member LADC will be held on December 3, and officials will count the votes on December 9.

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

He added that officials will scrutinize the nomination papers on November 14 from 3 p.m. onwards and complete the election process by December 12.

According to the final electoral roll published in September, 56,873 voters, including 29,019 women, will cast their votes in the upcoming LADC elections using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

There are 111 polling stations within the LADC area, and Hmawngbuchhuah, the southernmost tip of Mizoram on the Indo–Myanmar border, has only a single voter.

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

However, the present term witnessed at least five leadership changes due to defections.

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA)–led council, comprising 10 MNF, 2 BJP, and 1 Congress member, is currently in power, with N. Zangura (BJP) serving as the Chief Executive Member (CEM).

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

The LADC is one of the three Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) in southern Mizoram, created in 1972 under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution for the Lai tribal community.

It has 25 elected and 4 nominated members, and its headquarters is located at Lawngtlai in southern Mizoram.