Mizoram’s ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) has swept the local body elections by securing a majority in 324 village councils and 262 wards in local councils (LC).
Polling was conducted in 550 village councilss, equivalent to a gram panchayat, and 59 loal councils, equivalent to municipal bodies, on August 27 while strictly maintaining social distancing and other government COVID-19 guidelines.
Twelve village councils were earlier won uncontested, while polling was deferred in eight village councils and 24 local councils to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Also read: Amid Covid-19 scare, Mizoram local bodies’ polls held
Officials of Mizoram State Election Commission (MSEC), which conducted the polls, said the MNF won 58.91 per cent of village councils and 84.75 per cent of local councils.
The main opposition Congress won 96 village councils (17.45 per cent).
The Zoram Peoples Movement (ZPM), a local party which contested election for the first time after being registered as a political party in July last year, won 38 village councils (6.91 per cent) while the independent candidates secured 23 village councils (4.18 per cent).
There was no clear majority in some village councils.
In the local council polls, the MNF won 50 (84.75 per cent) out of 59 local councils while Congress won four local councils (6.78 per cent) and ZPM one even as four local councils remained hung.
The Bharatiya Janata Party, which has an MLA in the 40-member Mizoram assembly, fielded many candidates but none were elected.