Mizoram: Mara Autonomous Council elections result in ‘Hung’ House.

An official said the 25-member Mara Autonomous District Council (MADC) had set up a ‘hang house’ in Seha district of South Mizoram as neither party had won a majority since the election results were announced on Monday.
Siaha Deputy Commissioner Lalsangliana, who is the returning officer, said the ruling BJP, which had contested 24 seats in the council, had emerged as the single largest party by winning 12 seats, with a simple majority. One seat is less, with the state’s ruling party, the Mizo National Front (MNF), winning nine, and the Congress losing four seats in the last council elections in 2017, down from 17 seats.
The MNF and the Congress contested 25 and 23 seats respectively.

He said that the present Chief Executive Member (CEM) of BJP N Zakhai has been re-elected from Amobyu constituency. The MADC elections were held on May 5, in which 85.11% of the total 42,342 votes were polled.
A total of 85 candidates were in the fray for the MADC elections. The MNF won 25 seats, the BJP (24), the Congress (23) and the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), which participated in the council for the first time, won eight seats.

There were five independent candidates, and none of them won a seat.
Meanwhile, MNF vice-president Vanlalzawma said the party had not decided whether to form a coalition government with the BJP in the council. The MNF is a member of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), and an ally of the BJP-led NDA at the Center. However, the MNF and the BJP do not work together in Mizoram. The lone BJP MLA, Dr BD Chakma, is sitting on the opposition bench.