By NE NOW NEWS
GUWAHATI: The opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) on Monday officially entered the contest for Mizoram‘s lone Rajya Sabha seat by nominating advocate Zothansangi Hmar as its candidate, according to official sources.
Hmar, who is associated with the MNF’s legal cell, submitted her nomination papers before Mizoram Legislative Assembly Secretary and Returning Officer Zothansanga Ralte on the final day of filing nominations.
The ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) had earlier fielded its candidate, party spokesperson K. Laltluangkima, who filed his nomination on June 5.
With Hmar’s nomination, the election for the state’s sole Rajya Sabha seat is set to witness a direct contest between the candidates of the ruling ZPM and the opposition MNF.
The BJP and Congress, which hold two and one seats respectively in the 40member Mizoram Assembly, have not fielded any candidates for the election.
In the current Assembly, the ZPM enjoys a comfortable majority with 27 legislators, while the MNF has 10 members.
According to the Election Commission’s schedule, scrutiny of nomination papers will be conducted on June 10, while candidates can withdraw their nominations until June 11.
Polling for the Rajya Sabha election is scheduled to be held on June 18 from 9 am to 4 pm, with vote counting beginning immediately after polling concludes at 5 pm.
Apart from Mizoram, Rajya Sabha elections will also be held for one seat each in Manipur, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh, four seats each in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Karnataka, three seats each in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh and two seats in Jharkhand.