2023 Mizoram Legislative Assembly election

Legislative Assembly elections were held in Mizoram on 7 November 2023 to elect all 40 members of Mizoram Legislative Assembly, which had 174 candidates and saw 80.66% voter turnout. The votes were counted on 4 December 2023 which showed the Zoram People's Movement's victory winning 27 seats out of 40.

Background
The tenure of Mizoram Legislative Assembly is scheduled to end on 17 December 2023. The previous assembly elections were held in November 2018. After the election, Mizo National Front formed the state government, with Zoramthanga becoming Chief Minister.

The total number of voters in Mizoram is 40,78,681, comprising 19,93,937 male, 20,84,675 female and 69 third genders.

Schedule
The election schedule was announced by the Election Commission of India on 9 October 2023. The date of counting of votes was postponed from 3 December 2023 to 4 December 2023.

Parties and alliances
Source:

Campaigns
Violence between the Kuki (who constitute the majority in the state) Christian and the Meitei Hindu  in the neighbouring state of Manipur that year was a major political issue alongside clashes between police personnel of the state & that of the neighbouring state of Assam over border disputes in 2021.

Manifesto
MNF Election Manifesto:
 * Unification of Zo people across the world under one government with "higher authority" in accordance with the UN's 2007 Declaration on the Rights of the Indigenous People.
 * Implementation of all clauses of the Mizoram Peace Accord of 1986
 * Border Protection

Manifesto
Indian National Congress Election Manifesto:


 * Reintroduction of the Old Pension Scheme
 * Subsidized LPG cylinders at Rs 750 for poor households
 * 'Tang Puihna' scheme - Rs 2 lakh financial assistance to farmers and entrepreneurs to develop sustainable economic and livelihood activities.
 * Budgetary provision of Rs 5 crore every year, for Cancer patients.
 * 'Young Mizo entrepreneurs programme' to fund startups.
 * Old-age pension of Rs 2,000 per month.
 * Health insurance cover of Rs 15 lakh per family for Hospital treatments.

Manifesto
BJP Election Manifesto:


 * “Mission EDU Upgrade or Education upgrade" and “Zirlai Simathawana Mission" with budget of ₹250 crore and ₹350 crore respectively to renovate the government schools and colleges.
 * Establishment of Mizoram sports academy.
 * Scholarships for athletes.
 * Launching of Mizoram Olympic mission
 * Upgrading the Zoram medical college in Mizoram as the regional institute of medical sciences
 * Launching "Operation Drug Free Mizoram" to curb the drug addiction among youth.
 * Women empowerment scheme to give ₹1.5 lakh financial assistance to every girl child.
 * 33% reservation for women in government jobs Urban and Rural infrastructure
 * 'Mizoram Urban Infrastructure Development Mission' and 'Mizoram Rural Infrastructure Development Mission' with a budget of ₹400 crore and ₹950 crore respectively.
 * Introduction of Mizo Agri Infra Mission with ₹1000 crore investment to revamp the agricultural infrastructure.
 * Resolving long-standing border with Assam government.

Turnout
The highest voter participation was at Serchhip district at (84.78%), followed by the Mamit district (84.23%) and the Hnahthial district (84.1%). The Assembly constituency with highest turnout was Tuikum at 87.32%.

The female voters had a slightly higher turnout (81.25%) than male voters (80.04%).

Re-polling
Re-polling was done in the Muallungthu voting centre in Aizawl South-III constituency on 10 November 2023 because the voting personnel did not clear the mock poll data from the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM).

Exit polls
Opinion polls were released on 30 November 2023.

Results
Results were initially scheduled to be published on 3 December alongside those of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan & Telangana but was rescheduled to 4 December, because of 3 December being a major holiday for the Christian majority in Mizoram that year.