Aizawl, December 2
Blunting an anti-incumbency wave, the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) headed by Chief Minister Zoramthanga today stormed back to power in Mizoram, securing majority in the 40-member Assembly, a mandate that could boost the Centre’s peace talks with the insurgents in neighbouring Nagaland.
With counting of votes completed in 39 constituencies, the MNF secured 21 seats, same as it had bagged in the previous poll in 1998.
The Congress emerged as the main opposition with 12 seats, doubling its tally from the 1998 elections, occupying the space of Mizo People’s Conference (MPC), MNF’s erstwhile ally, which has been virtually decimated with its seat tally plummeting from 12 to just three. The MPC had contested the previous elections in alliance with the MNF but parted ways just a year later.
Counting for the Suangpuilawl constituency, which witnessed kidnapping of three candidates in the November 20 election, was not taken up as the Election Commission was yet to take a decision.
Zoramthanga has been a strong supporter of the Centre’s peace negotiations with NSCN (I-M) and he himself had held a few rounds of talks with the Naga outfit’s top leadership in Bangkok.
The Chief Minister said he would stake claim to form the new government by tomorrow and was willing to lead a coalition.
— PTI
