174 candidates including 16 women filld nomation for state polls

Aizawl: A total of 174 candidates, including 16 women, have filed their papers for the November 7 Mizoram assembly polls, an election official said on Saturday.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded candidates on 23 seats, while Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has fielded candidates on four seats. Apart from this, 27 independent candidates are also in the fray.
State unit presidents of most political parties are participating in this election. Among them are Chief Minister Zoramthanga (MNF), Lalsawta (Congress), Lalduhoma (ZPM), and Vanlalhmuaka (BJP).
MNF supremo Zormathanga is re-contesting from the Aizawl East-I seat, BJP state chief Vinallahmooka from the Dampa seat, Congress Mizoram unit chief Lalsawta from the Aizawl West-III seat, and ZPM president Lalduhoma is running for re-election. Election from Serchhip seat.
Among the 11 districts of Mizoram, maximum number of candidates (55) are contesting on 12 seats in Aizawl district. The least number of candidates (three) are in the fray on the single seat of Hanthial district.
October 20 (Friday) was the last date for filing nomination papers while Monday is the last date for withdrawal of nomination papers.

In the last assembly elections of 2018, a total of 209 candidates, including 18 women, contested the election. Of these, 81 male candidates and 16 female candidates had their deposits confiscated.