Aizawl, May 13: The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) today consolidated its position in Mizoram, retaining the state’s sole Lok Sabha seat and adding another to its Assembly tally.

Tipped to win right from the time he was nominated, MNF candidate Vanlalzawma topped the vote count in as many as 31 of the 40 Assembly segments. In the nine constituencies where he finished second to Mizoram Secular Force (MSF) nominee Laltluangliana Khiangte, the biggest margin was 700.

Though the MNF was expected to win, the victory margin of 20,000-odd votes surprised pollsters. Most had expected the contest to be a close one because this election was about a single party on one side and three on the other. R. Tlangdingliana of the Ephraim Union did not pose any threat to either the ruling or the Opposition parties, garnering only about 5,000 votes.

In the bypoll to Kolasib constituency, K. Lalrinliana of the MNF defeated C. Lalbiakthanga of the MSF by 1,294 votes. This increased the Zoramthanga-led MNF’s strength in the 40-member Assembly to 22.

Khiangte attributed his defeat at the hands of Vanlalzawma to inadequate campaigning by the Opposition alliance. “Several areas of the rural belt were not covered by the campaigners. Had the campaign been vigorous, my prospects of getting elected would have improved. After all, it was three parties against one,” he said.

The MSF leader got the highest number of votes in all three constituencies that are represented in the Assembly by the presidents of the three parties that comprise the alliance: Lalthanhawla of the Congress, Lalduhoma of the Zoram National Party and Lalhmingthanga of the Mizoram People’s Conference.