Altogether 66 candidates, including 20 females, are in the fray for the 19-member Aizawl Municipal Corporation (AMC) polls.
The AMC polls will be held on February 16.
Mizoram state election commission secretary Teresy Vanlalhruaii said 66 candidates, who have filed nominations for the polls, did not withdraw their candidatures till the last of withdrawal on Monday.
Also read: Mizoram: Elections to Aizawl Municipal Corporation on February 16
She said the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), Congress and main opposition party Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) have fielded 19 candidates, including 6 females each while the BJP has fielded 9 candidates, including 2 women.
The state government on Wednesday announced public holiday in the AMC area to enable voters to exercise the franchise.
There are 19 seats in AMC of which 6 are reserved for women.
The counting of votes will be conducted on February 18.
This time the municipal poll is expected to see a triangular fight among MNF, Congress and ZPM.
Chief minister and MNF president Zoramthanga earlier expressed confidence of winning the polls.
The MNF won all the polls held since it assumed power in December 2018.
A total of 2,18,870 electorates including 1,17,191 female voters will decide the fate of 66 candidates on February 16.
Polling will be held in 274 polling stations from 7 am to 4 pm where Electronic Voting Machine will be used.
The AMC was established in 2010 under the Mizoram Municipalities Act, 2007.
Although the present AMC term ended on December 10, 2020 and the election was due in the same year, it could not be held due to the spread of Covid19.
In the last municipal polls held in 2015, the MNF won a clear majority by bagging 11 seats while the Congress bagged 7 seats and Mizoram People’s Conference (MPC) had won one seat.