The 40 assembly seats in Mizoram went to its single phase election on Tuesday and recorded over 77% voter turnout. The northeastern state usually witnesses higher voter turnouts, and in the 2018 assembly elections it was 84.9 per cent.

The voting began at 7 am and continued till 4 pm. In Mizoram, number of women voters, i.e., 4,39,026 surpasses men, i.e., 4,13,062. 8,52,088 voters will decide the fate of 174 candidates which includes 18 women candidates as well.

As the Legislative Assembly consisted of 40 seats, 21 are needed for a majority. The main players in the contest are Mizo National Front (MNF), Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), and Congress. They have fielded 40 candidates each. Besides, BJP and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) fielded 23 and 4 candidates respectively. Currently, Zoramthanga-led MNF is ruling Mizoram and ZPM constitutes the opposition party. In the 2018 Assembly elections, MNF secured 26 seats and gained a vote share of 37.8 per cent. ZPM  obtained 6 seats and Congress and BJP gathered five and one seats respectively.

The ZPM holds high stakes in this election since it is also a regional party like MNF. Established in 2018,the party formed as an alternative to the MNF. It surprised everyone with winning eight seats in its debut assembly polls. The election predicts a close contest between MNF and ZPM. Meanwhile, since voters in Mizoram usually change the government after the second term, MNF hopes that this tradition will work in their favour. Mizoram Chief Minister expressed confidence in the election, said that there will not be a hung assembly in the state.

The results for the election will announce on December 3.