AIZAWL, Oct 6 - The Mizoram State Assembly elections will be held in a single phase on November 28, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced today.
The ECI announced the date of the Assembly polls in Mizoram along with those in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana. Mizoram and Madhya Pradesh will go to the polls on the same date.
Conveying this to the media, Mizoram CEO SB Shashank said that preparations are in full swing to conduct the State Assembly elections.
He said the poll notification would be issued on November 2 and the last date of filing nomination is November 9. Scrutiny will be held on November 12 and November 14 will be the last date for withdrawal of nomination papers.
�There are a total of 7,68,181 voters who will exercise their franchise in 1,164 polling stations,� he said.
There are 40 seats in the Mizoram Assembly of which one seat, Aizawl East-I, is unreserved. All the remaining 39 seats are reserved for STs.
The CEO said 1,859 ballot units, 1,841 control units and 1,751 VVPATs will be used in the elections. Webcasting will be conducted in 125 polling stations.
Shashank informed the media persons that 48 companies of the State police and 40 companies of Central armed police forces would be deployed in the polling stations.
A PTI report adds: Major political parties in Mizoram have welcomed the announcement of the poll date to the 40-member State Legislative Assembly by the ECI on Saturday.
Ruling Congress leader and Social Welfare Minister PC Lalthanliana said the State PCC was fully prepared for the Assembly polls and had been expecting an early announcement of the election date.
Lalthanliana said the ruling party was ready and the date of election being after the monsoon season would help polling officials, especially in the remote areas.
Former minister and vice president of the Opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) Dr R Lalthangliana said the party was enthusiastic about the announcement of the date.
Lalthangliana expressed the hope that the MNF would be voted to power after being in the Opposition for a decade.
Election in Mizoram is important as it will decide whether the Congress manages to hold on to its lone fort in the North East or not.