The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday, October 9 announced the assembly poll dates of key states – Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram –  to be conducted in the upcoming month.

According to the poll body, the elections in the northeastern state of Mizoram will take place on November 7 and result will be declared on December 3. The Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that Mizoram election will be conducted in a single phase.

The EC on their official social media page on X, shared the detailed schedule of Mizoram assembly elections.

The election will be held for 40 assembly seats and tenure of the current assembly ends on December 17.

In the previous assembly election in 2018, Mizo National Front (MNF) emerged victorious by securing 26 seats with a vote share of 37.8 per cent. In the election, Zoram People”s Movement (ZPM) with 6 seats turned as the major opposition, whereas Congress secured 5 and BJP secured one seats respectively. Thus, trouncing Congress, MNF chief and former insurgent leader Zoramthanga became the Chief Minister of Mizoram.

In the last week, ruling MNF has declared candidates for the 40 assembly seats during an event in Aizawl. The candidate list includes two women and 15 new faces. Aside from that, party gave tickets to 25 sitting MLAs, and excluded 3 MLA.

Zoramthanga, the Chief Minister and MNF President, will run from Aizawl East – I, the seat he won in the 2018 assembly elections, similarly, Deputy Chief Minister Tawnluia will run from Tuichang. Chief Minister has kickstarted the election campaign. Voters usually change the government after the second term, so MNF hopes that this tradition will work in their favour.

ZPM emerges as the strong opposition for MNF and hopeful to secure power this time. They have also declared candidates for 40 seats and even presented Lalduhoma, a senior politician who had experience in different parties from Congress to Zoram Nationalist Party as the chief ministerial face.