174 candidates file nominations for Mizoram assembly polls

Aizawl: Altogether 174 candidates, including 16 women, have filed nominations for the 40-member Mizoram assembly polls on November 7, officials said on Saturday.

Scrutiny of nomination papers will be undertaken during the day and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is October 23.

All nominees of the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), the opposition Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) and the Congress have filed their nomination papers, the officials said.

The MNF has fielded candidates in all 40 seats, including 25 incumbent legislators, while six ZPM MLAs among its 40 nominees are seeking re-election.

Twenty-three BJP candidates and four nominees of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have filed their papers, the officials said, adding that 27 candidates have submitted nomination documents as independents.

Polling for the Mizoram assembly will be held in a single phase on November 7 and counting of votes will take place on December 3.

Earlier, political parties, churches, civil society organisations and student bodies in Christian-dominated Mizoram had urged the Election Commission to reschedule the counting date as it falls on Sunday, which is a sacred day for Christians.

Christians constitute 87 per cent of the state's population.

The Election Commission is yet to respond to the pleas.

A total of 8,56,868 electorates, including 4,38,925 women voters, are eligible to exercise their franchise in the assembly polls.

The MNF had bagged 26 seats in the 2018 assembly polls, while ZPM secured eight, Congress five and the BJP one.

Later, the MNF won two assembly bypolls, raising its tally to 28.