Since the northeastern state of Mizoram gained statehood in 1987, power in the state has been oscillating between Congress and the Mizo National Front. Since 1989, the state government has been changing after every two terms. This time both these decades-old traditions has been broken by the main opposition party Zoram People’s Movement led by Lalduhoma, a former IPS officer. Of the 40 assembly constituencies, ZPM has handsomely won 27 seats.
Anti-Incumbency Shatters MNF Hopes
The ruling MNF thought that the state government’s handling of Chin-Kuki-Zomi refugees from Myanmar, Bangladesh and neighbouring state of Manipur would help the party beat anti-incumbency as Chins, Kukis, Zomis and Mizos, who are the majority in the state, come under the larger “Zo” tribe. Particularly, the MNF hoped that it would gain votes by rallying behind the Kuki-Zomi people of Manipur.
However, raking up the Mizo sentiment didn’t work for the MNF. Strong winds of change were blowing. Even MNF veteran Zoramthanga lost from the Aizawl East I constituency to ZPM’s Lalthansanga – the giant killer of this election – by a voteshare difference of more than nine percentage points. Out of 11 ministers contesting the elections, nine had to bite the dust.
Anti-incumbency stemming from unemployment, poor developmental outcomes and improper implementation of the government’s flagship programme, Socio-Economic Development Policy (SEDP) proved costly for the MNF in the urban areas. In the rural areas, the party hasn’t been able to perform as per expectations. Of the 10 seats it won, nine are rural seats.
ZPM’s Focus On Change Clicked
While the ruling MNF was busy focusing on Mizo nationalism amid the backdrop of the Manipur ethnic violence, the ZPM went to the electorate with the promise of systematic change and also nominated 15 fresh faces. Its campaign was for a corruption-free state with focus on farmers’ issues and developing the backward infrastructure of the state.
All these clicked with the voters of the state as the party saw a rise of 15 percentage points in vote share and an increase of 19 seats from 2018. Its breakthrough performance in 2018 was in the urban areas. Now ZPM has also penetrated the rural belt as it bagged eight rural seats, seven more than last time.
The new party's focus on socio-economic issues also helped the party gain support in urban areas, where the party has performed stunningly. It has swept all the 11 constituencies of the Aizawl Municipal Corporation and also all the four constituencies of the Lunglei Municipal Council.
Congress Fares Badly, BJP Tally Improves
Despite the two-day visit of top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to the state, Congress, which once dominated the state, failed to retain four of the five seats it had won last time. It has been able to retain only the Lawngtlai West seat. The state Congress president Lalsawta, veteran Congress leader Lal Thanhawla’s successor, also lost the elections.
On the other hand, BJP has been able to increase its tally by winning two seats – both from the ethnic Mara dominated Saiha district. The prominent saffron leader to win the elections is former MNF leader and minister K Beichhua.
But barring the Saiha district, the party’s strategy to focus on the ethnic minority seats crashed with the party losing the Chakma-dominated Tuichawng seat it had won last time. It also fared badly in the other Chakma-majority West Tuipui seat and didn’t perform up to expectations in the Mamit district, which has a sizable presence of non-Mizo voters.
Sagarneel Sinha is a political commentator and tweets @SagarneelSinha. Views are personal, and do not represent the stance of this publication.
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