Filing of nomination papers begins in Mizoram; elections on November 28

The Election Commission on Friday issued the statutory notification for November 28 Assembly elections in Mizoram, an official said.

"Separate notifications were issued by the Election Commission and state Governor Kummanam Rajasekharan for the Mizoram Assembly elections to be held on November 28," an Election Department official said here.

With the issuance of the statutory notification, already hectic political activities have further intensified in the Christian-dominated Congress-ruled state.

The official said with the issuance of the statutory notification, the filing of nomination papers began from Friday.

The last date for submitting candidature is November 9, scrutiny of nominations would take place on November 12 and the late date for withdrawal of nominations is November 14.

The five-year term of the 40-member Mizoram Assembly expires on December 15.

In all 768,181 voters, including 393,685 women, are eligible to cast their votes in 1,164 polling stations across the mountainous state, which shares international borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh.

All political parties, including the ruling Congress, opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), besides other smaller parties, have already declared their candidates for the upcoming polls.

After forming governments on its own or in alliance with other parties in six northeastern states, the state BJP leaders say they would make all-out efforts to vote the Congress out of power, to "paint the North East saffron".

Mizoram is the only state ruled by the Congress in north-east India that comprises eight states.

The Congress has mostly ruled the state every since it becomes a full-fledged state in 1987, except for 10 years -- 1998-2003 and 2003-2008. It has, however, suffered several setbacks over the last one-and-half months.

Senior Congress leader and state Home Minister R. Lalzirliana and three sitting legislators -- Lalrinliana Sailo and Buddha Dhan Chakma, both former ministers, and Hmingdailova Khiangte resigned from the party.

While Lalzirliana and Sailo joined opposition MNF and Chakma joined the BJP, Khiangte has announced to contest the polls as an Independent candidate.

With these resignations, the Congress' strength in the 40-member House has reduced to 30, while MNF has six lawmakers. Four seats are vacant after the resignations of four Congress legislators.

Sources in the MNF said both Congress deserters joining the party are likely to be its candidates in the state elections. The MNF has ruled the state for two terms (1998-2003 and 2003-2008).

The MNF is one of the constituents of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA).

(With inputs from agencies.)