The grand old party won only five seats in 2018 assembly polls. The BJP, which has a lone member in the outgoing assembly, has decided to put up candidates in 23 seats….writes Sujit Chakraborty
A multi-corner contest would be held in November 7 elections to the 40-member Mizoram assembly elections with two local parties — the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) and the opposition Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), likely to play a key role in government formation.
The Congress, which ruled the mountainous state for many years alternatively since it became statehood in 1987 and was in power till 2018, when it was ousted by the MNF, would field candidates in all 40 seats.
The grand old party won only five seats in 2018 assembly polls. The BJP, which has a lone member in the outgoing assembly, has decided to put up candidates in 23 seats.
The MNF and the ZPM already announced their candidates for all the 40 seats.
Except the Congress there is no pre-poll alliance with any party. Though the MNF is a partner of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), the two parties officially have no alliance in the Christian dominated state.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is the convener of NEDA.
The Congress has recently formed ‘Mizoram Secular Alliance’ (MSA) with two local parties — People’s Conference (PC) and Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP).
State unit Congress President Lalsawta said that the MSA was formed to unitedly fight against the BJP.
The People’s Conference, which was founded by Padma Shri award winner late Brig T. Sailo, and ZNP are not fielding any candidates and the two parties would support the Congress nominees.
Anticipating that a fractured mandate is likely to emerge in the next month’s poll, Mizoram state BJP President Vanlalhmuaka said that the party has no problem to forge a post-poll alliance with any other like minded parties except the Congress. Vanlalhmuaka will fight the election from Dampa assembly constituency.
The saffron party had contested 39 seats in the 2018 elections and secured 8.50 per cent votes and one seat, opening its account for the first time in the Christian majority state though 33 of its candidates forfeited their deposits.
In 2013, all 17 BJP candidates forfeited their deposits.
The party’s lone legislator Buddha Dhan Chakma, who was elected to the state assembly from Tuichawng constituency, however, will not contest this time.
Four defectors from the ruling MNF found places in the BJP candidate list, announced on Wednesday.
Former Speaker Lalrinliana Sailo and former Minister K. Beichhua would contest from Mamit and Siaha constituencies respectively while former MNF advisor T. Lalenthanga would contest from West Tuipui seat and former Chief Executive Member of Chakma Autonomous District Council Durjya Dhan Chakma, has been fielded in the Chakma tribal majority Tuichawng constituency.
All the four MNF leaders earlier this month joined the BJP, quieting their party.
Of the 23 BJP candidates, four are women – Judy Zohmingliani (Tuivawl), F. Lalremsangi (Aizawl South-1), K. Vanlalruati (Serchhip), and R. Lalbiaktluangi (Lunglei West). Lalremsangi is the spokesperson of the BJP’s Mizoram state unit.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also announced candidates for four seats in Aizawl district.
Another newly formed party, the Lalpa Chhiahlawh Intelkhawm (Association of God’s servants), headed by a retired pastor, announced that it would contest at least 18 seats.
State Presidents of most of the political parties – Chief Minister Zoramthanga (MNF), Lalsawta (Congress), Lalduhoma (ZPM), Vanlalhmuaka (BJP) are contesting this election. Though the political parties are at loggerheads in the next month’s poll battle, they unitedly and separately urged the Election Commission to reschedule the vote counting day in Mizoram, where the counting of votes will take place on December 3 (Sunday).
These parties, along with state’s largest NGO Young Mizo Association (YMA) and Church bodies have urged the poll panel to change the date of vote counting (December 3) as Sunday is a sacred day for Christians, and the entire day is devoted to church services across the state.
According to the 2011 census, around 87 per cent of Mizoram population is Christian.
The Election Commission is yet to respond to the demand of change of the counting date.
After considering the representations from various political parties and social organisations for changing the polling date in Rajasthan in view of large scale wedding and social engagements on that day (November 23), the Election Commission changed the date of polling to November 25.
The EC on October 9 announced the assembly election schedule for five states — Mizoram, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Chhattisgarh.
The votes would be counted on December 3.
