ELECTIONS '98 COMMENTARY
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Samata candidate missing in Mizoram; 27 per cent polling till noon

Samata Party candidate A Saima, contesting from Suangpuilawn, was reported to be missing since last night, the police said in Aizawl today.

In another incident, five reels of fuse wires and explosives were found near Saihapui river near Phainuam.

The police said investigation was on to trace the missing candidate.

However, polling progressed unhindered. More than 27 per cent of an estimated 450,000 electorate cast their votes till noon today in the elections to the 40-member Mizoram assembly.

Aizawl (undivided) logged an impressive 40 to 45 per cent polling till noon.

While a poor 15 per cent polling was recorded in Lunglei, about 25 per cent was recorded in Chhimtuipui (undivided).

Heavy rain in the morning for nearly two hours did not dampen the enthusiasm of voters in Aizawl (undivided) which recorded the highest polling percentage till 1200 hours.

A report from Saiha said due to heavy shower, accessibility to some polling booths was hindered. It added that the people took all pains to exercise their franchise in Chhimtuipui.

In Aizawl, voters, particularly women, were seen in large numbers at several polling booths. Even a 93-year-old woman was carried in to cast her vote at a polling booth in Aizawl West-I.

UNI

Assembly Election '98

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