Regional party Mizo National Front or MNF trumped the ruling Congress party in Mizoram taking it away from Lal Thanhawla, returning to power after a decade. The MNF got a massive 26-seat majority, according to Election Commission, crossing the mid-way mark of 21. Congress could manage just five seats in the 40-member assembly. The MNF, led by Zoramthanga, a former ally of the BJP in the state, had decided to contest independently this time. Rebel leader and two-time Chief Minister of Mizoram, 84-year-old Zoramthanga is set to be the Chief Minister. Zoramthanga has already staked claim to form government and the swearing in of the new cabinet would take place next Saturday. Congress' Lal Thanhawla, five time chief minister, on Tuesday evening submitted his resignation to Governor Kummanam Rajasekhar.
Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, who contested from Champhai South and Serchhip, lost both the seats. He lost Champhai to Mizo National Front's (MNF) TJ Lalnuntluanga, while Serchhip was snatched by Zoram People's Movement's (ZPM) chief ministerial candidate Lalduhoma. The figures throw Congress out of its last bastion in the north-east. Though a poll of exit polls said the MNF would beat the Congress, predictions had given the party a slim margin over the ruling Congress. It had also predicted the MNF would fall short of the majority mark of 21 in the 40-member Mizoram assembly, another prediction that was proved to be wrong.
Here are the highlights of Mizoram Election Results 2018:
Rebel leader and two-time Chief Minister of Mizoram, 84-year-old Zoramthanga has led his party -- the Mizo National Front (MNF) -- to victory in the assembly elections. The MNF has bagged 26 of the 40 seats in the hill state. The ruling Congress could manage only five. The outgoing chief minister, Lal Thanhawla, has accepted his defeat and resigned after the results were announced.
#ResultsWithNDTV | And the winner is... Prannoy Roy and his panel of experts and special guests bring you in-depth analysis of #AssemblyElections2018
- NDTV (@ndtv) December 11, 2018
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#ResultsWithNDTV | "The states where we lost, in Telangana and Mizoram, I want to congratulate the winners," says Congress President @RahulGandhi
- NDTV (@ndtv) December 11, 2018
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#ResultsWithNDTV | After MNF wins 26 seats in Mizoram, Congress' Lal Thanhawla concedes defeat #MizoramElections2018
- NDTV (@ndtv) December 11, 2018
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#ResultsWithNDTV | "We're part of NEDA (North-East Democratic Alliance) and NDA, but wouldn't like to join Congress or UPA": MNF chief Zoramthanga to ANI #MizoramElections2018 pic.twitter.com/95g6hDy6Tp
- NDTV (@ndtv) December 11, 2018
#ResultsWithNDTV | In Tawi, BJP's J V Hluna loses to MNF's R Lalzirliana #MizoramElections2018
- NDTV (@ndtv) December 11, 2018
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#WATCH: Celebration outside Mizo National Front (MNF) office in Aizawl. The party has won 14 seats out of 40 & is leading on 9 seats in Mizoram. #AssemblyElections2018 pic.twitter.com/zJwcZKLbRh
- ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2018
The Congress, which appears to be on the road to victory in BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan and is locked in a close fight in Madhya Pradesh, is losing grip on Mizoram. In a big blow to the party, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) is headed for a landslide win in Telangana, the youngest Indian state.
#ResultsWithNDTV | In Mizoram, key faces of MNF are leading in their constituencies #MizoramElections2018
- NDTV (@ndtv) December 11, 2018
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#ResultsWithNDTV | In #MizoramElections2018, Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla is contesting from 2 seats. Read all about it here: https://t.co/sZJyUI7R85
- NDTV (@ndtv) December 11, 2018
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There is sense of optimism among the rank and file of the Mizo National Front (MNF), the main opposition to the Congress in Mizoram. Their optimism is based on the history of the state where governments change every 10 years. However, it appears that smaller parties are going play a crucial in this assembly polls.
#ResultsWithNDTV | Shots of a counting centre in Aizawl #MizoramElections2018
- NDTV (@ndtv) December 11, 2018
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