139 candidates to contest Mizoram polls
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- Category: North East Political News
- Last Updated: Thursday, 22 January 2015 20:51
139 candidates to contest Mizoram polls
AIZAWL: A total of 139 candidates have filed their nomination papers for the November 25 election to the 40-member Mizoram assembly, state election department officials said. Friday was the last date for filing of nominations. Chief minister Lal Thanhawla of Congress filed two nominations for Serchhip and Hrangturzo seats in Serchhip district on Friday.
Scrutiny of the nominations will be undertaken on Saturday while the last date of withdrawal of candidature is Monday.
Former chief minister Zoramthanga of the Mizo National Front (MNF) filed his nomination in the East Tuipui constituency along the Mizoram-Myanmar border. The chief of MNF's junior ally, Mizoram People's Conference (MPC), Lalhmangaiha Sailo, also filed his nomination to contest from the Aizawl East-I seat.
Others who filed their nominations include Lalduhawma, president of the Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) from Aizawl West-I and Kolasib seats and lone MNF Rajya Sabha member Lalhmingliana contesting from the Serlui constituency along the Mizoram-Assam border in Kolasib district.
Political analysts predicted that the main contest would be between the MNF-led alliance Mizoram Democratic Alliance (MDA) and the ruling Congress, while some people did not rule out the possibility of the ZNP, led by cop-turned-politician, former Lok Sabha MP Lalduhawma, of turning out to be the dark horse.
Congress is contesting all the 40 seats and 31 sitting legislators, excluding former minister Nirupam Chakma, are contesting from the constituencies they had won in 2008 assembly polls.
The MDA also contested 40 seats while the ZNP contested 38 seats and the BJP fielded candidates in 11 constituencies.