Aizawl: Altogether 49 candidates from five political parties and independents are in the fray for the 12-member Sinlung Hills Council (SHC) polls in Mizoram slated for November 5, an official said.
A total of 41 candidates had contested the last council polls held in November 2019.
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With one BJP candidate withdrawing its candidature, 49 candidates, including a female candidate, are in the fray for the council polls till the end of the last date for withdrawal of candidature on Monday, the official said.
He said that ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) has nominated 8 candidates, including incumbent council’s chief executive member (CEM) Lalvenhima Hmar and sitting chairman HC Lalmalsawma.
Opposition Congress has fielded 12 seats, Mizo National Front (MNF) nominated 10 candidates, Hmar People’s Convention (HPC)-4 and BJP fielded 1 seat, he said.
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There are 14 independent candidates, including two candidates backed by the MNF, he said.
Polling for the SHC will be held on November 5 in which 23,789 voters, including 11,914 female voters, are eligible to exercise their franchise.
Counting of votes will be undertaken as soon as voting is over and all ballot boxes reach constituency headquarters on November 5, officials said.
The SHC has 12 constituencies, comprising 31 villages in the Hmar-dominated northeastern part of Mizoram, covering three assembly constituencies in the Aizawl, Kolasib and Saitual districts.
In the last council polls held on 5 November 2019, the Mizo National Front (MNF)-HPC combine bagged 10 seats, and the other two were won by independent candidates.
However, in the last five years, there has been a frequent change in the power dynamics in the council and the ZPM-HPC alliance is currently in power.
The SHC was established on July 9, 2018, as a result of the peace accord signed between the Mizoram government and the erstwhile underground Hmar People’s Convention (Democratic) or HPC(D) on April 2 that year.