Silchar, Nov. 28: The ruling Congress today swept the elections to Mizoram's Lai Autonomous District Council by bagging 16 out of 25 seats in a bounce back from its debacle in Aizawl civic polls.

The candidates backed by Opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) managed to win in eight seats while one seat went to the Independent.

Akin to the civic poll results, the BJP-Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) alliance failed to open its account despite all efforts to win the hearts of people before the elections.

The Congress won in Sangau South, Sangau West, Cheural, Vawmbuk, Bualpui East, Lawngtlai Bazar, Lawngtlai Vengpui, Lawngtlai College Veng, Paithar, Diltlang South, Sakeilui, Kawnpui, Bungtlang, Sekulh, Tuithumhnar and Vathuampui constituencies.

The MNF registered victory in Sangau East, Lungtian, Lungpher South, Bualpui West, Lawngtlai Chandmary, Council Veng, Lawngtlai-III and Chawngte.

Independent candidate Dingliana Chinzah won from Lawngtlai Aoc constituency.

There were 74 candidates in the fray. The Congress and the MNF fielded 25 candidates each.

The BJP fielded 11 candidates, the Mizoram People's Conference two and the ZNP one. There were 10 Independent candidates.

LADC is the largest autonomous district council in Mizoram for ethnic Lai people, who were earlier known as Pawi, living in south-eastern Mizoram, bordering Myanmar and Bangladesh.

The district council polls, which were held on Thursday, saw a turnout of 85.22 per cent of 45,757 electorate.

The secretary of the Mizoram PCC's media department, David Thangliana, told The Telegraph today: "We are extremely happy with the results and I thank the people for trusting the Congress once again. We had expected a few more seats but, nevertheless, are thrilled with the results," he added.

The ruling Congress had won 19 out of 25 seats in the last LADC polls in 2010.

Thangliana said the Opposition had tried their best to malign the Congress's reputation, but people had thwarted all the "evil# designs".

"We are ruling in the state as well as in all the three district councils constit-uted under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution," he added.

The general secretary of MNF, Lalruatkina, today said they had accepted the people's verdict with all humility.

"We have made a remarkable progress despite our loss in the election. In the last LADC polls, we had no seat, but this time we won eight. Lack of money power and other resources is one of the reasons behind our loss," he added.