AIZAWL, 5 Nov: Campaigning for the 7 November Mizoram assembly elections ended at 4 pm on Sunday with no reports of any law and order problems throughout the month-long period, Additional Chief Electoral Officer H Lianzela said.
He asserted that any form of electioneering, public meetings, press conferences by political parties, interviews and panel discussions in the media have been strictly prohibited till voting is over.
Out of the 1,276 voting centres in the state, 149 are remote polling stations, Lianzela said, adding that around 30 polling stations along the interstate and international borders have been declared critical and vulnerable.
Security has been tightened across the state and along international borders with
Bangladesh and Myanmar, a police officer said. Mizoram shares a 510-km porous border with Myanmar and a 318-km border with Bangladesh.
At least 3,000 policemen and 5,400 personnel of the Central Armed Police Forces have been deployed for the polls, the officer added.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, union Road Transport & Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, and union ministers Sarbananda Sonowal and Kiren Rijiju visited the state and campaigned for BJP candidates.
State BJP president Vanlalhmuaka said that the party would win 6-8 seats.
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Jairam Ramesh and Shashi Tharoor campaigned for their candidates.
During campaigning, ruling party MNF tried to capitalise on the issue of refugees and internally displaced people from Myanmar, Bangladesh and Manipur and Mizo sub-nationalism, besides highlighting the development in the state over the last five years despite financial constraints triggered by the pandemic.
The opposition highlighted the failure of the MNF government in fulfilling its promises, including implementation of the flagship programme, socioeconomic development, construction of flyovers, good roads, among others.
The ZPM banked on its policy of change and introduction of a new system of governance.
More than 8.57 lakh electorates, including 4,39,026 women, will decide the fate of 174 candidates. The results are scheduled to be announced on 3 December. (PTI)
