According to the Mizoram State Election Commission, over 61% of voters cast ballots in the 19-member Aizawl Municipal Corporation (AMC) elections on Tuesday. The polls were held peacefully at 274 locations. An election official claims that 61.14 percent of the 2.39 lakh registered voters cast ballots in all 19 wards, demonstrating the city’s dedication to urban self-governance. However, as the official count has not yet been confirmed, the ultimate turnout figure may differ somewhat. There were no complaints of any disruptions to law and order during the 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. voting period.
Notably, major regional and national parties are expected to compete in a high-stakes four-cornered struggle for the municipal corporation’s 19 seats. Lalduhoma, the chief minister of Mizoram, had earlier urged all eligible residents to vote to strengthen democracy. He and his family cast their ballots at the Chawihhmun polling station in Aizawl on Tuesday morning. Lalduhoma was optimistic that the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) would win 16 or more seats and obtain a clear mandate. If the party gains control of the civic body, he further pledged openness and quicker progress.
In the end, ZPM would benefit from recent political criticism. Better AMC governance is one of his party’s main promises, he added. “We will win a landslide victory, securing at least 16 or all the seats,” he declared.
