"It could mean anything": Mizoram CM on high voter turnout

Aizwal (Mizoram) [India], November 8 : Weighing in on the state Assembly elections on Tuesday, Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga on Wednesday said the polling went off peacefully despite the inadequate deployment of police and the central armed forces.
Speaking to ANI a day after the state recorded a robust voter turnout of 78.40 per cent for the single-phased assembly polls, the Mizoram CM said, "The elections went off peacefully and hitch-free. For elections in a small state like ours, there isn't much deployment of the police and central force personnel."
"Even if a policeman stands in the corner of a polling booth, it's enough to ensure peaceful elections here. The people don't often acknowledge this," the chief of the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) told ANI.
"Owing to some issues with EVMs, polling in some seats continued till 9 pm. Hence, I don't have information on the exact voting percentage. But it must have been close to 80 per cent, as per my estimate," the CM added.
To a question on whether the robust turnout is an indication that the people voted for change in Mizoram in Tuesday's Assembly polls, the CM added, "It (high voter turnout) could mean anything. I don't think it indicates an inclination to vote for change and neither does it suggest that they don't like the ruling party anymore. The people here accord a lot of importance to governance while casting their votes," the CM, who is seeking a fresh term in the Assembly from Aizawl East - I, told ANI.
On the main issues in the state, including in the key sectors of Health and Education, the CM said resource mobilisation is a prominent issue, adding that the state faced financial problems after losing thousands of crores due to the Covid-induced lockdown.
"Our fiscal problem due to the Covid lockdown is the most important issue. We lost thousands of crores of rupees to Covid. Resource mobilisation is also an important issue here. There are developmental issues such as self-sufficiency in food grains, among others. Road development, mechanisation of resources, and Health and Education are also important," the CM told ANI.
Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) chief Lalduhoma, a former IPS officer, who is also the party's chief ministerial candidate, is in fray from Serchhip.
In the 2018 Assembly elections, the Mizo National Front (MNF) secured 26 seats with a vote share of 37.8 per cent, dislodging the Congress from power.
The Mizo National Front, Indian National Congress, and the Zoram People's Movement fielded candidates for all 40 seats while the BJP has fielded candidates in 23 seats.