Aizawl: The Congress, battered in four states of north and central India, ultimately had the consolation in retaining power in the north-eastern state of Mizoram today for the second consecutive time, by securing an absolute majority.
The ruling party demolished its opposition who had come together under the Mizo Democratic Alliance. By afternoon, the Congress had secured 22 out of the total 40 seats.
Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, 71, was elected to the state assembly for a record ninth time. He contested from two places in central Mizoram and won both seats.
This is for the fifth time the Congress has come to power in Mizoram. In the outgoing assembly, the Congress had 32 seats.
Thousands of Congress activists celebrated in Aizawl and across the state as election results began to pour in.
Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla contested from two constituencies and won both Serchhip and Hrangturzo seats defeating his nearest MNF and Mizoram People's Conference (MPC) rivals.
Lal Thanhawla has been elected to the state assembly for a record nine times since 1978.
He defeated his nearest MNF rival C. Lalramzauva, a lawyer and a three-term former legislator, in Serchhip by a margin of 734 votes while he retained the Hrangturzo seat beating MPC opponent Lalthansanga by 1,628 votes.
