Mizoram polls: MNF wins 16 seats, Congress wins 4

As the counting of votes cast in the Mizoram Assembly elections continues, the Mizo National Front (MNF) has won 16 seats and is leading in nine, while the Congress party has won four seats and is leading in one.

According to the latest figures by the Election Commission of India, the Independents have won five seats and are leading in three. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) continues to lead on one seat.

The Congress party, which has been in power in Mizoram since 2008, is eyeing a third consecutive term. However, incumbent Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, who contested from Serchhip and Champhai South, has lost both the seats.

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.