AIZAWL, Dec 8 - The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) registered a landslide victory in the Lai Autonomous District Council (ADC) election by capturing 20 out of the 25 seats.
Election to the Lai ADC, one of the three ADCs of the State, was held on December 4. Counting of votes began from 8 am today.
A total of 72 candidates were in the fray for the polls, which showed a three-cornered fight between the MNF, its NDA partner BJP and the Congress. The BJP which contested in 17 seats, bagged one seat. T Zakunga, a Congress member in the previous government who defected to the BJP, is the sole winner from the saffron party.
The Congress which fielded 14 candidates, also won one seat. The remaining three seats were won by Independent candidates. Altogether 16 Independent candidates contested in the council election.
It may be mentioned here that the Congress had won the previous council election held in 2015, securing 16 seats. The MNF had then bagged eight seats and one Independent candidate was elected.
However, months before the election to the Lai council, the MNF had the highest number of members in the council with 11, followed by the BJP with nine. The Congress�s strength had diminished to five, mainly due to defections.
