Mizoram assembly elections 2013 voting begins.

Mizoram assembly elections 2013 voting begins.

AIZWAL: Voting to elect a new 40-member assembly in Mizoram began on Monday morning at 7am, with about 20 per cent of voters casting their ballots in the first two hours. 

The polling, which will close at 4 pm, has been peaceful so far. 

Vote percentage: 

• "Mizoram assembly election polls 2013:  voting% is 20% in initial hours."
• "Mizoram assembly election polls 2013:  voting% is 36.63% till 11 am."
• "Mizoram assembly election polls 2013:  voting% is 50% till 1:30 pm."
• "Mizoram assembly election polls 2013:  voting% is 82% till 5:00 pm."

There were some reports of EVMs experiencing technical snags, according to election commision officials. 

"We immediately replaced the EVMs," an EC official said. 

The Church-sponsored election watchdog, Mizoram People's Forum (MPF) is keeping a vigil on all the polling stations across the state. 

Members of the MPF were present in all the 1126 polling stations helping the EC to ensure a free and fair election. 

Chief minister and state PCC president, Lal Thanhawla casted his vote at 9.45am in the Government Combined Middile School polling station, Babutlang, in Aizawl North-III constituency where his brother Lal Thanzara is contesting as a Congress candidate. Lal Thanhawla is contesting from two seats - Serchhip and Hrangturzo. 

"I am confident of a thumping majority this time," said the chief minister and added that the opposition parties could not find any fault with him as his government was clean. "Zero corruption, good governance and successful implementation of the New Land User Policy have made the people happy with the Congress government," he said. 

Mizo National Front (MNF) president and former chief minister Zoramthanga was at his East Tuipui constituency. He said the MNF led opposition alliance was confident of a victory and "we will form the people's government." The MNF along with the Mizoram People's Conference (MPC) and the Maraland Democratic Front (MDF) have formed a pre-poll alliance - Mizoram Democratic Alliance (MDA) - to take on the ruling Congress. 

The Congress had swept the last assembly polls in 2008 winning 32 of the total 40 seats. While the MNF had bagged three seats, the MPC and the Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) won two seats each. The MDF had won one seat.

Source:timesofindia

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