Mizoram is heading for a three-way fight between the ruling National Front (MNF) led by Chief Minister Zoramthanga, Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) and the Congress. Mizoram traditionally had a two-party system since it gained statehood in 1987, with the Congress and the MNF as the two parties.
However, the ZPM has replaced the Congress as the principal opposition in the last assembly elections while the MNF is seeking a second term.
MIZORAM ELECTION SCHEDULE AND 2018 RESULT
Polling for the 40-member Mizoram assembly will be held in a single phase on November 7 and counting of votes will take place on December 3.
In the 2018 assembly polls, Mizo National Front (MNF) got a majority by winning 26 seats, while the Congress remained the second largest party in Mizoram in terms of vote share and managed to get 5 seats. The ZPM candidates contested as independents and got 6 seats.
MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES AND ALLIANCES
A total of 174 candidates are in the fray for the Mizoram assembly polls scheduled for November 7, according to a PTI report. The nominees represent five political parties, and 27 are independents. A total of 8,56,868 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the elections.
The ruling Mizo National Front, the main opposition party Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) and the Congress have fielded 40 nominees each. The MNF has fielded 25 incumbent legislators, while six sitting MLAs are among the ZPM candidates.
The BJP, which contested in 39 seats in the 2018 polls and won one, has nominated 23 candidates this time, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), making its electoral debut in Mizoram, is contesting in four seats.
Zoramthanga’s MNF is a part of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) and an ally of the NDA at the Centre. However, the party does not work with the BJP in Mizoram.
WHAT MATTERS TO VOTERS?
The Manipur violence is likely to have a spillover effect in the Mizoram elections as the state has around 13,000 people from Manipur fled to for refuge after the violence in May.
As per reports, Mizoram CM Zoramthanga said he will not share the stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he campaigns for the assembly elections in the state. The BJP, meanwhile, is eyeing the votes of linguistic minorities such as Chakma, Bru, Mara and Lai community people living in the southern part of the state.
BJP, which contested 39 seats in the last assembly polls in 2018, has fielded 23 nominees this time. The saffron party has promised 33 per cent reservation for women in government jobs and solution to the long-standing border dispute with Assam, among others.
Congress state president Lalsawta has claimed that Congress will form the next government in Mizoram and asserted that the party will create jobs for 1 lakh people if voted to power. Congress has also promised to provide health insurance cover of Rs 15 lakhs to each family, given that they do not have a member who is a regular government employee.
Mizo nationalism is another issue which could work in the favour of the ruling party. A border dispute between Mizoram and Assam is a long-standing issue and violent clash between the police forces of Assam and Mizoram in July 2021 claimed the lives of six people.
Zoramthanga has maintained that he is committed to the cause of Mizo nationalism and he also claimed that he “threatened” to resign when he was asked to pull back personnel of the Mizoram Police from the state’s border with Assam during the 2021 clashes.
KEY SEATS
Here’s a list of some of the prominent constituencies:
- Aizawl East-I: in Aizawl East-I, Chief Minister Zoramthanga is seeking re-election after winning the seat in 2018 polls. Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) Vice-President Lalthansanga while the Congress has fielded Lalsanglura Ralte.
- Serchhip: ZPM leader and chief ministerial candidate Lalduhoma is contesting from the seat against MNF newcomer J Malsawmzual Vanchhawng and Congress candidate R Vanlaltluanga.
- Hachhek: Hachhek, in Mamit district near the Tripura border, will likely see an intense battle between Congress MLA Lalrindika Ralte and current state Sports Minister Robert Romawia Royte.
- Aizawl West-III: Aizawl West-III is expected to witness a three-way fight between MNF, ZPM, and the Congress. ZPM MLA VL Zaithanzama will face off against Congress President Lalsawta and MNF candidate K Sawmvela.
- Tuichang: The seat is represented by Deputy Chief Minister Tawnluia. Tawnluia, a veteran Mizo National Front (MNF) leader, has been elected as the MLA on the MNF ticket in the years 1987, 1989, 1998, and 2003. He won from the Tuichang assembly seat in 2018.
- Dampa: BJP president Vanlalhmuaka is contesting from the Dampa seat in the Mizoram assembly polls. He was elected as the BJP Mizoram unit’s leader in 2020 when he replaced JV Hluna.
KEY CANDIDATES
- Zoramthanga: Zoramthanga is the current Chief Minister of Mizoram and chief of the Mizo National Front (MNF). He has been representing the Aizawl East-I Assembly constituency in the Mizoram Assembly since 2018.
- Tawnluia: Tawnluia is the Deputy CM of Mizoram and in-charge of several portfolios including the Public Health Engineering Department, Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation Department and Personnel and Administrative Reforms. Tawnluia was elected to the Mizoram Legislative Assembly in the years 1987, 1989, 1998, and 2003.
- Lalsawta: Lalsawta is leading the charge as the Congress is set to contest its first election in the post-Lal Thanhawla era in Mizoram. Lal Thanhawla, a former chief minister and state unit chief of the Congress, had won nine elections between 1978 and 2018.
- Lalduhoma: Lalduhoma is the leader of the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) and a former IPS officer from Mizoram. In the 2018 election, he won from two constituencies including Aizawl West-I and Serchhip.
- Vanlalhmuaka: Vanlalhmuaka is the BJP Mizoram state president and contesting the upcoming election from the Dampa constituency against MNF candidate Lalrintluanga Sailo and Lalhmingthanga Sailo of Congress.
(With inputs from Kamalika Sengupta)
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