Mizoram records 52.73 pc polling till 1 p.m., Chhattisgarh sees 44.75 turnout for 20 seats

In the ongoing state assembly elections in Mizoram and Chhattisgarh, voting patterns are starting to emerge. As of 1 p.m., Mizoram recorded a voter turnout of 52.73 percent, while Chhattisgarh saw 44.55 percent of eligible voters casting their ballots in the first phase of polling in 20 assembly constituencies, according to data from the Election Commission.

Among the constituencies in Chhattisgarh, Bhanupratappur led the voter turnout with 61.83 percent, followed closely by Kanker at 61.80 percent. Other constituencies included Mohla-Manpur at 56 percent, Antagarh at 55.56 percent, Kondagaon at 54.04 percent, and Keshkal at 52.66 percent.

The polling began at 7 a.m. for ten constituencies, including Mohla-Manpur, Antagarh, Bhanupratappur, Kanker, Keshkal, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur, and Konta. Voting for the remaining constituencies started at 8 am, which included Pandaria, Kawardha, Khairagarh, Dongargarh, Rajnandgaon, Dongargaon, Khujji, Bastar, Jagdalpur, and Chitrakote.

This phase of polling will determine the electoral fate of prominent political figures, including former Chief Minister Raman Singh and BJP leaders Bhawna Bohra, Lata Usendi, and Gautam Uike. The notable Congress leaders contesting in this phase include Mohammad Akbar, Savitri Manoj Mandavi, Mohan Markam, Vikram Mandavi, and Kawasi Lakhma.

A total of 223 candidates, including 25 women, are competing in the first phase of Chhattisgarh’s elections, with 5,304 polling booths set up by the Election Commission. This phase of polling is taking place in the Naxal-affected region of the state, as well as in some other constituencies.

In parallel, Mizoram is conducting elections for all 40 constituencies in the state. The data until 1 pm shows a voter turnout of 63.00 percent in Tuichawng, 62.62 percent in Tuikum, 61.17 percent in East TuiPui, 60.20 percent in Tuichang, and 59.93 percent in Lawngtlai West.

The polling for the 40-member state assembly in Mizoram began at 7 am. Chief Minister Zoramthanga, who heads the Mizo National Front, is seeking re-election from Aizawl East – I. Lalduhoma, the chief of Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), a former IPS officer and the party’s chief ministerial candidate, is contesting from Serchhip.

In the 2018 assembly elections, the Mizo National Front (MNF) secured 26 seats with a vote share of 37.8 percent, ousting the Congress from power. The MNF, Indian National Congress, and the Zoram People’s Movement have fielded candidates for all 40 seats, while the BJP has 23 candidates in the fray.

The remaining 70 constituencies in Chhattisgarh will go to the polls on November 17. The counting of votes will take place on December 3 in Mizoram and Chhattisgarh, along with three other states.