For political parties, every vote and every seat counts. But often, there is a lot more public interest in some seats and personalities than others, especially in constituencies where widely-recognised political heavyweights are contesting the elections. As Mizoram is currently the only state ruled by the Congress in the northeast, it is imperative for the party to retain it for the third consecutive term. While the main opposition -- the Mizo National Front (MNF) -- is optimistic about coming back to power after 10 years, the BJP hopes to not only open its account in the state but also turn kingmaker for a non-Congress government in the event of a hung assembly. Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla has expressed confidence that his party would storm back to power with a "full majority". He contested from two seats, Serchhip and Champhai South, this year.
