Cong sweeps Mizoram polls, gets 2/3 majority

Aizawl: Congress has swept Mizoram Assembly polls, winning 29 constituencies and securing a two-thirds majority.

The ruling Mizo National Front alliance was leading in four seats at the time of final results.

PC Lalthanliana and RL Pianmawia (Congress) have won from Lunglei North seat and Tuivawl respectively. Congress candidate Lalrinmawia leads by 197 votes over H Lalenvela of the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) in Hachhek seat.

Three-time former chief minister and state PCC chief Lal Thanhawla headed the list of winners romping home from South Tuipui and Serchhip seats.

Lal Thanhawla beat his nearest rival, United Democratic Alliance (UDA) nominee J Lalchhuana by a margin of 96 votes in South Tuipui and UDA candidate C Lalramzauva, an advocate, by 736 votes in Serchhip.

Assembly Speaker Lalchamliana of MNF was beaten by the sitting Congress MLA H Liansailova in the prestigious Aizawl North-II seat.

Deputy Speaker C Lalrinsanga of the MNF also lost to P C Lalthanliana of the Congress in Lunglei North seat.

Lalduhoma, deputy chief ministerial candidate of the UDA was defeated in Tuivawl seat by his Congress opponent and a first timer R L Pianmawia.

In Tuivawl, Gogo Lalremtluanga of the MNF leads over Lalduhoma of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) by 16 votes, while in Kolasib constituency, PC Zoramsanqliana of Congress leads over UDA candidate Lalrawna Sailo by 600 votes.

Hminqdailova Khianqte of the Congress is also leading over Sailothanqa Sailo of the UDA by 457 votes in Tuirial seat.

The counting of votes for the elections to the 40-member Mizoram Assembly, held on December 2, began on Monday in all the eight district headquarters of the state amidst tight security.

The results of all the constituencies are expected to be out by afternoon, officials said.

The fate of 205 candidates, including nine women and 36 Independents, would be decided in the results.

Prominent leaders in the fray are Chief Minister and MNF chief Zoramthanga, former chief minister and state PCC chief Lalthanhawla and former chief minister and UDA's chief ministerial candidate Brig T Sailo.