Assembly Election 2023 Highlights: Mizoram registers 77.04% voter turnout today

“We are fighting the elections on the basis of development and the work we have done from 2018 to 2023,” said Congress leader and Chhattisgarh minister Mohammad Akbar while visiting a polling booth in Kawardha.

“When he (Mizoram CM) came to cast his vote early morning, there was a technical problem and at that time, he was not able to cast his vote. But, our polling personnel resolved the matter and the polling commenced thereafter and there was no need to even change the EVM. At 9:46 am, sir came back and he cast his vote successfully,” said Nazuk Kumar, District Election Officer, on technical glitch in EVM at a polling booth in Aizawl while Mizoram CM Zoramthanga tried to cast his vote earlier today.

“(In 2014) when you gave full majority government, the country got its first OBC PM. BJP is the only party in the country which gives maximum representation to the OBC community. There are 27 OBC ministers in the NDA government at the Centre, which is the highest since independence. Today BJP has 85 OBC MPs in the country, 365 OBC Assembly members in the country. Today BJP has 65 OBC Legislative Council members in the country,” PM Modi said during his Hyderabad speech.

In its first phase of polling, Chhattisgarh has recorded a voter turnout of 70.87 percent till 5 pm. The voting process stands concluded now.

“The voting was held peacefully. Even after 5 pm, tokens were distributed and queues were seen in both Pandariya and Kawardha. Even people in rural areas affected by Naxal were very excited for voting,” says SP Abhishek Pallava.

“They (BJP) are giving the wealth of the nation to a few industrialists. Today the country’s airports and ports are being given to Adani. Who is this Adani?”

On the assembly elections, Rajya Sabha MP and MNF Party candidate K Vanlalvena said, “I will be the winner in these elections… Wherever I visit within my constituency, everybody loves me for my good work…The main agenda will be the development of my constituency and employment problems…”

Three security personnel were injured in an exchange of fire with Naxals near Minpa in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh.

A 65-year-old social activist from Mizoram staged a hunger strike against the Election Commission’s silence over the demand for rescheduling the day of the counting of votes, as polling for the 40-member assembly continued across the state. The EC has fixed December 3, which is a Sunday, as the day of counting. All major political parties of the Christian-majority state have urged the poll panel to change the day as it will clash with church programmes.

Lalbiakthanga, who has also written to the EC making the same demand, chose the polling day to stage his protest with a hunger strike, as he sat in front of ‘Vanapa Hall’, a state government-owned auditorium in the heart of Aizawl. The hunger strike began at 7 am and it will continue till 4 pm when the voting will come to an end, said Lalbiakthanga, known as the “walkathon man” as he had travelled on foot hundreds of kilometres several times to raise awareness on various social issues.

The sexagenarian said he would not cast his vote to register the protest. “Although I wish very much to cast my vote, it is unfortunate that I can’t do so as the EC failed to take any action on our pleas to change the counting date,” he told PTI. Political parties, including the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) and the BJP, church and student bodies had written to the EC urging the poll panel to reschedule the counting date.

The “walkathon man” had on October 25 written to the ECI urging it to change the date of counting to a day other than Saturday and Sunday. Lalbiakthanga walked for 10 days to reach from Aizawl to Manipur’s Churachandpur, a distance of more than 300 km, in May this year to promote peace and harmony in the ethnic strife-affected state. Last year, he had covered 1,212 kms in 40 days visiting 118 villages across all the 11 districts of Mizoram in a mission to spread awareness in view of 75 years of India’s independence.

In March 2021, he also walked more than 200 km from Aizawl to Zokhawthar village on the Indo-Myanmar border to extend solidarity to the people of the neighbouring country where a military junta had taken over power in a coup. In 1997, he travelled to at least 50 villages in the state and spread awareness of environmental and wildlife protection among students.

A voter shows her finger marked with indelible ink after casting her vote for Mizoram Assembly elections, in Mamit district. (Image: PTI)

A CRPF commando was injured in an IED blast triggered by Naxalites in the Sukma district while his unit was undertaking an area domination operation to ensure security during the polls.

A brief exchange of fire took place between Naxalites and security personnel near Banda polling station in Sukma district. Another encounter took place between security forces and Naxalites in Orchha police station area of Narayanpur district.

However, no harm was reported to security personnel in these two incidents, police said.

“We are fighting the elections on the basis of development and the work we have done from 2018 to 2023,” said Congress leader and Chhattisgarh minister Mohammad Akbar while visiting a polling booth in Kawardha.

“Loans of farmers of Chhattisgarh will be waived off. Education will be free from KG (Kindergarten) to PG (Postgraduate). All government schools will be upgraded to ‘Atma Nand’ schools. Free electricity up to 200 units will be provided,” said Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi
addressing an election rally in Balod, Chhattisgarh.

She added, “This (Centre) government has privatised PSUs and handed them to big industrialists. They were sold at throwaway prices.”

The Congress on Tuesday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of a five-year extension of the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana was a “blatant violation” of the model code of conduct as it was made in the midst of the Chhattisgarh election campaign.

The party also asked if the Election Commission would take note of it and act.

In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also said the five-year extension is not only a recognition of the “Prime Minister’s flailing image” but also of the deepening economic distress and financial pain.

As the day progresses, the voting picks up. Mizoram records 52.73% voter turnout till 1 pm. Chhattisgarh registers 44.55% polling in the first phase till 1 pm.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hit out at the Congress for failing to contain Naxalism in Chhattisgarh and said whenever the party comes to power at the Centre, Naxalites and terrorists get emboldened. Addressing a rally in Surajpur district of Chhattisgarh, Modi also targeted Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel over the alleged Mahadev betting app scam with the slogan 30 take kakka, khule aam satta (30% commission government, openly operating betting). Baghel is popularly called ‘Kaka’ (uncle) in the state. Voting was underway on Tuesday for the first phase of polls in the state in 20 out of the total 90 assembly seats.

As voting for the first phase of the Chhattisgarh polls began, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday reiterated the party’s “guarantees” to the people and called for the return of its “trustworthy” government in the state.

In a post in Hindi on X, Rahul Gandhi said, “When you exercise your franchise, remember, Congress’ trustworthy government once again in Chhattisgarh.”