Peaceful Mizoram set to vote under thick security cover, sealed borders

AIZAWL: One of the smallest states of the country in terms of geographical area, electorate and assembly seats, Mizoram will vote on Tuesday under massive security with focus on the 35 'critical polling booths' that lie along the open international border with Myanmar and Bangladesh and the interstate borders with Manipur and Assam.

Polling will begin from 7am and continue till 4pm.

State chief electoral officer Madhup Vyas said the 404-km long international border with Myanmar and 318-km long international border with Bangladesh, as well as Assam, Manipur and Tripura interstate borders will remain sealed till 4pm on the polling day.

DGP Anil Shukla said about 5,000 state police personnel and 50 companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) have been deployed across 1,200 polling booths in the state.

"No untoward incidents have been reported during the campaign, which witnessed a large number of VVIPs visiting the state. This peaceful environment reflects Mizoram's commitment to upholding democratic values and ensuring a fair electoral process. However, elaborate security arrangements have been made. A total of 35 polling stations either lying in areas bordering Myanmar, Manipur and Assam or very remote areas or areas with mixed population have been identified as critical. Additional security personnel have been deployed in such polling booths," he said.

The top cop said a total of 1,831 civil police personnel from Mizoram, along with 2,527 Special Armed Police Force (SAPF) personnel and 2,700 Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel and 160 of the Mizoram Reserved Home Guards (MRHG) have been deployed in the state.

MNF, ZPM & Cong contesting all seats
The Mizoram Police is committed to ensuring a secure and safe electoral process. We are dedicated to upholding the rule of law and protecting the rights of every citizen. Our officers will be deployed throughout the state, working in coordination with other security agencies ," the DGP said.

About 8.57 lakh voters, including 4.39 lakh women, are eligible to exercise their franchise to decide the fate of 170 candidates in the 40 seats. Though the number of candidates is 170, four of them are contesting from two assembly seats each taking the total number of poll contestants to 174.

The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), main opposition Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) and Congress have fielded candidates in all the seats. The BJP is contesting 23 seats, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has fielded candidates in four seats. Besides, there are 27 independent candidates. The MNF, ZPM and the Congress have fielded two women candidates each, while the BJP has fielded three. It withdrew the candidature of one woman candidate under the pressure of the influential Mizo students's body called Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP).

"Various tasks, including polling station duty, sector police officers, nakas (checkpoints), interstate border check posts, static surveillance teams, flying squads, EVM guards, observer security, security for candidates, quick response teams, area domination and other duties such as border sealing have been taken care of," he added.

Vyas said all the 1,276 polling parties have reached their respective polling stations on on Monday evening.

Nagaland bypoll

The EC is also geared up for the byelection to Tapi assembly seat in Nagaland's Mon district on Tuesday. The bypoll has been necessitated following the demise of NDPP MLA Noke Wangnao on August 28.