Mizoram is the last bastion of the Congress in the northeast where Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla is looking for a third consecutive term in the office.
The Mizo National Front returned to power in Mizoram after 10 years Tuesday, capturing 26 seats in the 40-member Assembly and inflicting a humiliating defeat on the Congress. Rebel-turned-politician Zoramthanga is back with a bang as he led the MNF to a thumping victory in the state's elections.
With the results, the Congress has now lost power in all the seven states in the northeast.
The party which had bagged 34 seats in the 2013 Assembly elections managed to win just five seats this time.
Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla suffered defeat from both the seats he contested, including his home turf Serchip. He also lost from Champai South constituency.
The Mizo National Front (MNF) had lost power in the state in 2008. The Zoram People's Movement (ZPM), recognised by the Election Commission, won eight seats.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) opened its account in the largely-Christian dominated state as party candidate and former minister Buddha Dhan Chakma won from the Chakma-dominated Tuichawng seat in south Mizoram's Lawngtlai district.
1. Final results in Mizoram
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Final results: BJP-01, Congress-05, MNF-26, Others-08
2. Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla loses from both seats
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Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla lost from both constituencies he was contesting from. He was defeated by MNF's TJ Lalnuntluanga by 1049 votes in Champhai South. While Thanhawla polled 4163 cotes, Lalnuntluanga received 5,212 votes.
Thanhawla (5071) lost to ZPM's chief ministerial candidate Lalduhoma (5481 votes) in Serchhip.
3. Counting at 13 counting centres
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Counting is being held at 13 counting centres in the eight district headquarters. Elaborate security arrangements have been made for counting, state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ashish Kundra said.
4. Three-layer security cordon for counting centres
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DIG (Northern Range) Lalbiakthanga Khiangte had earlier said there would be a three-layer security cordon manned by eight companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), the state armed police and unarmed police personnel during the counting.
5. Mizoram elections 2013
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In the 2013 elections, the Congress had won 34 seats, while its main opposition, the Mizo National Front (MNF), got five and the Mizoram People's Conference bagged one seat.
6. Counting begins
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Counting of votes for 40 seats begins in Mizoram.
7. Early trends
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Early trends at 8:45 am: BJP - 0, Congress- 01, MNF- 01
8. Mizoram trends at 9:10
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Mizoram trends at 9:10: Congress-10, BJP- 12
9. Mizoram trends at 9:30 am
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Mizoram trends at 9:30 am: BJP-02, Congress-11, MNF-18
Mizoram ECI trends:BJP-01, MNF-02
10. Trends at 10:00 am
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Mizoram trends at 10:00 am: BJP-02, Congress-10, MNF-22
Mizoram ECI trends:BJP-01, MNF-02
11. Mizoram trends at 10:30 am
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Mizoram trends at 10:30 am: BJP-02, Congress-12, MNF-23, Others-03
12. ECI trends at 12:30 pm
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ECI trends at 12:30 pm: BJP-01, Congress-06, MNF-23, Others-08
13. ECI trends at 4:45 pm
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ECI trends at 4:45 pm: BJP-01, Congress-05, MNF-26, Others-08
