Aizawl, April 21 More than 61 per cent of the 2.39 lakh voters exercised their vote in the 19-member Aizawl Municipal Corporation election on Tuesday, officials said.
An official of the Mizoram State Election Commission said that no major untoward incident was reported during the polling, which began at 7 a.m.
Polling continued at 274 polling stations in the urban civic body areas until 5 p.m., without a break.
A total of 2.39 lakh voters, including 1.26 lakh women, were eligible to cast their votes to decide the electoral fate of 68 candidates, of whom 28 are women, contesting in the civic body polls.
Election authorities, along with the state police, have taken elaborate measures to ensure that the polling process remains free, fair, and transparent.
The Mizoram government had earlier declared a public holiday in areas under the Aizawl Municipal Corporation on Tuesday to enable voters to exercise their franchise.
An official notification stated that all eligible voters have been urged to exercise their franchise and that, on polling day, all government offices, educational institutions, and public sector establishments within the Aizawl Municipal Corporation jurisdiction would remain closed.
Officials of the Mizoram State Election Commission said that nearly 94 per cent of the 2,768 senior citizens, Persons with Disabilities, and individuals with chronic illnesses have already cast their votes through the home voting facility.
According to a State Election Commission official, the candidates comprise 40 men and 28 women representing four major political parties, all contesting for seats in the civic body.
The ruling Zoram People’s Movement, the main Opposition Mizo National Front, and the Congress have fielded 19 candidates each, while the Bharatiya Janata Party has nominated 11 candidates.
The previous Aizawl Municipal Corporation elections were held in February 2021, when the Mizo National Front secured a majority by winning 11 seats.
The Zoram People’s Movement won six seats, while the Congress secured two seats.
Although the municipality’s term ended on March 1, the State Election Commission deferred the election process due to administrative reasons.
These included the state Assembly’s budget session, which concluded on March 16, as well as ongoing state Board examinations.
Votes will be counted on April 27.
--IANS
Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor