Mizoram Rajya Sabha Election Begins; CM among First to Cast Vote

Aizawl: Voting was underway on Thursday for the election to the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Mizoram, with the ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) and the opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) locked in a direct contest after the BJP and the Congress decided to abstain from the polling.

The ZPM has fielded its party spokesperson, K. Laltluangkima, while the MNF has nominated advocate and writer Zothansangi Hmar for the election.

The BJP and the Congress, which together have three legislators in the 40-member Assembly, have opted to stay away from the voting, making it a straight contest between the ZPM and the MNF. The ruling ZPM enjoys a comfortable majority in the Assembly, holding 27 seats, while the MNF has 10 legislators. The BJP has two MLAs and the Congress one.

The election is being held to fill Mizoram’s lone Rajya Sabha seat, currently held by outgoing MP K. Vanlalvena, whose term is ending next month.