Mizoram polls: MNF maintains lead, Congress far behind

The Mizo National Front (MNF) with leads on 17 seats, continued to surge ahead of the Congress party and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), early trends on Election Commission of India (ECI) website reflected.

The Congress, which could not open its account in the initial rounds, is now leading at five seats, even as the BJP continued to lead on one and Independents on eight.

The Congress party, which has been in power in Mizoram since 2008, is eyeing a third consecutive term. However, Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, who contested from two constituencies, has lost Champhai South seat to MNF's TJ Lalnuntluanga, and trails at Serchhip constituency.

The land-locked Mizoram in the North-East has 40 Assembly constituencies spread across eight districts, out of which 39 seats are reserved for scheduled tribes, while one is for the general category.

MNF, the regional political party, formed the government in Mizoram twice, first in 1986 and then in 1998. However, it lost the 2008 elections and won only three seats.

Currently, it's a part of the North-East Regional Political Front, which supports the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Pu Zoramthanga, is the president of the MNF.

The state, which went to polls on November 28, saw a voter turnout of about 80 per cent. As many as 7,70,395 lakh voters were eligible to cast their vote in the state including 3.75 lakh males and 3.95 lakh females.