''Owing to poor communication network
, the results could not be received on time. When the results reached us, the poll percentage turned out to be only 48.66,'' poll officials said here today.
However, the votes polled in the eight relief camps of Bru/Reang refugees were quite high touching 57.7 per cent. In the relief camps, six in North Tripura district and two in Mizoram Mamit district, there are 12,539 eligible voters for Mizoram.
The ballots cast by the Reangs are on their way to the state capital Aizawl under tight security surveillance, officials said.
The 1977 parliamentary elections in Mizoram witnessed a 49.91 poll percentage which had been the lowest until this year's poll turnout.
The fate of the four candidates for the state's lone Lok Sabha seat will remain sealed in strong rooms in headquarters of the each eight districts of Mizoram till May 16.
The run up to the polls will witness a straight fight between Congress nominee and party stalwart C L Ruala and Mizo National Front-Mizoram People's Conference combined candidate and former MP Dr H Lallungmuana.
The two other candidates - Rualpawla of little-known Israel National Front (independent ticket) and Lalawmpuia Chhangte of the Nationalist Congress Party - are unlikely to get more than 10,000 votes each.
All the EVMs used in the polling stations in Aizawl district reached a heavily-guarded strong room here this morning.
Aizawl district election observer Renilla D Marak and Aizawl DC/DEO C Thanchhuma received the EVMs in the presence of other officials.
Mizoram also had by-election yesterday to the South Tuipui Assembly constituency left vacant by Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla.
The by-poll, which was a two-cornered fight between MNF-MPC and ruling Congress party, recorded 67.96 per cent voters' turnout.