Voting underway for election to lone Rajya Sabha seat in Mizoram, CM casts vote

Voting is underway connected Thursday (June 18, 2026) for the predetermination to the lone Rajya Sabha spot successful Mizoram with 2 candidates successful the fray, an authoritative said.

The ruling Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) has fielded enactment spokesperson K. Laltluangkima, portion the main Opposition, Mizo National Front, nominated advocator and writer Zothansangi Hmar for the polls.

The BJP and the Congress decided to abstain from voting.

Mr. Lalthangmawia, the further caput successful the Assembly secretariat, said MLAs are being allowed to ballot from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the counting volition statesman astatine 5 p.m.

"All logistical and information arrangements are successful spot for the voting. Counting of votes volition beryllium held astatine the assembly building," helium said.

Chief Minister Lalduhoma formed his ballot astatine 9.43 a.m. and dismissed the Opposition's allegation that determination was a rift wrong the ruling ZPM, which could trigger cross-voting during the ongoing polling for the lone Rajya Sabha spot successful the State.

"The allegation that determination is an interior squabble wrong the ZPM and imaginable cross-vote successful the Rajya Sabha canvass is simply a ploy of the absorption to distract nationalist attention. They person been doing this from the beginning. There volition beryllium nary cross-vote arsenic our legislators stay agreed during the voting," the CM said.

Mr. Lalduhoma was the archetypal legislator to enactment successful the voting, followed by Horticulture Minister C. Lalsawivunga.

In the 40-member Mizoram Sssembly, the ZPM has 27 legislators, the MNF 10, the BJP 2 and the Congress 1 legislator.

MNF legislator and person of absorption Lalchhandama Ralte alleged that determination was a rift wrong the ZPM.

He expressed anticipation that the MNF mightiness get a ballot from the ruling party.

Mr. Ralte besides claimed that ZPM legislators exercised their franchise from 10:30 a.m. onwards and remained agreed during the voting.

Congress MLA C Ngunlianchunga said that helium would not formed his ballot arsenic suggested by the enactment precocious command.

BJP media convener Johny Lalthanpuia besides said its 2 legislators would not enactment successful voting for the Rajya Sabha poll.