• Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga loses to ZPM's Lalthansanga in Aizawl East-1 seat by 2,101 votes: EC

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• Zoram People's Movement gets majority in Mizoram assembly, wins 21 of 40 seats: EC
• Ruling Mizo National Front won seven seats and leading in three
  

• The prominent ZPM winners include the party's CM face Lalduhoma who bagged the Serchhip seat by defeating his MNF rival J Malsawmzuala Vanchhawng by 2,982 votes

• Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) racing towards power in Mizoram, having already won 12 seats and leading in 15 others: Election Commission

• Chief Minister Zoramthanga was trailing in the Aizawl East-1 seat to ZPM's Lalthansanga after three rounds of counting

• Ruling MNF win two seats and leading in eight others, but several of its senior leaders were either trailing or have already lost

• Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) crosses the halfway mark in early trends and leading in 25 seats, besides winning one

• The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) leading in 10 seats, the BJP in three and the Congress in one

• Deputy CM Tawnluia lost to ZPM candidate W Chhuanawma in the Tuichang seat by a margin of 909 votes

• Chief Minister Zoramthanga trailing in Aizawl East-1 seat to ZPM's Lalthansanga after two rounds of counting

• ZPM leading in 24 seats, MNF ahead in 10 as counting progresses in elections to 40-member Mizoram assembly: EC

• Mizoram Deputy CM Tawnluia loses to ZPM candidate W Chhuanawma in Tuichang: EC

• ZPM leading in 17 seats, while MNF ahead in 10 as initial trends poured in: reports PTI

• Congress leading in two seats and BJP ahead in one

• Chief Minister Zoramthanga was trailing in Aizawl East-1 seat to ZPM candidate Lalthansanga after the first round of counting. Zoramthanga got 3,074 votes, while Lalthansanga secured 3,714 votes

• Opposition ZPM ahead of ruling MNF as the initial trends poured in: reports PTI

• Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) ahead in 11 seats, while the Mizo National Front (MNF) was leading in six seats, TV channels showed: reports PTI

• According to PTI correspondents at the counting centres, the ZPM was ahead in two seats and the MNF in one

• Election Commission website showed ZPM leading in one seat and the BJP leading in one

• Counting of votes began at 8 am on Monday amid tight security, reports PTI

• Additional Chief Electoral Officer H Lianzela told PTI that the counting was being held in 13 centres across the state. One counting hall has been set up for each of the 40 assembly seats at these 13 centres, he said.

The Mizoram Assembly election of 2023 has emerged as a crucial battleground. While the BJP is not expected to secure a strong performance, the focus has shifted to whether it can influence the political landscape in Mizoram post-election. The three primary contenders—the incumbent Mizo National Front (MNF), the Indian National Congress (INC), and the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM)—are strategically positioning themselves, particularly in light of recent events in Manipur that have heightened public wariness of the BJP.

TTO graphic

The election, marked by a three-cornered contest, reflects a desire for an alternative to the traditional two-party system. The ZPM, with its emphasis on clean governance and a candidate lineup featuring more academics, is positioning itself as a fresh option. However, concerns linger about potential alignment with the BJP, given Mizoram's dependence on the central government for funding.

Ethnic and religious dynamics play a significant role, with regional identities and the fluidity of ethnic configurations taking center stage. The role of the predominantly Christian church in influencing the electorate and shaping political agendas, particularly on issues like prohibition, is pronounced. The inclusion of charismatic leaders and lay evangelists, such as T Lalhmachhuani (Mimi), adds a unique dimension to the election.

Moreover, the contest has brought to light issues of ethnic purity, notably the Mizo Zirlai Pawl's stance on women married to non-Mizos standing for elections. This has sparked debates on racial purity, a relatively uncommon concern in Mizoram's political history. The election, therefore, is not merely a political event but a complex interplay of regional, ethnic, and religious factors that will shape the future trajectory of Mizoram's political landscape.