Opinion | Congress is confident in Mizoram, but MNF and BJP are also upbeat

A voter displays her voter identity card as others wait for their turn to cast their ballot during an assembly election at a polling booth in Aizawl, capital of Mizoram, December 2, 2008. (Image- Reuters)

Jangkhongam Doungel

Electoral politics in Mizoram since the District Council era (1952 to 1972) has been a fight for political power between two dominant parties.

This time too, unless there is a political miracle, the main electoral battle in the November 28 Assembly election in the state will be between the ruling Congress and the Mizo National Front (MNF).

There are other political parties in the electoral race, but, the main battle remains between these two parties.

A two-party political battle

During the District Council era, the fight was initially between the Mizo Union and the United Mizo Freedom Organization (UMFO) and later between the Mizo Union and the Congress.

This political rivalry continued as Mizoram entered its Union territory era (1972 to 1987). After the Mizo Union merged with the Congress, the electoral battle was between the Congress and the People’s Conference (PC).

After 1987, when Mizoram became a state, the political battles have been between the Congress and the MNF. Out of the seven assemblies Mizoram has had, three were led by the MNF and the remaining four, including the current one, by the Congress.

The many regional parties

This time, in addition to the two national parties -- the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) -- there are a host of recognised and unrecognised regional parties in the fray.

The recognised regional parties in fray are the MNF, the Mizoram People’s Conference (MPC) and the Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP). The Meghalaya-based National People Party (NPP) led by Conrad Sangma is also trying to open its account in the Mizoram Legislative Assembly.

The two new regional parties hoping to enter the Assembly through the polls this time are the People’s Representation for Identity and Status of Mizoram (PRISM) and the Zoram Exodus Movement (ZEM).

PRISM started as an anti-corruption watch-dog in 2006 and became a political party in 2017. It remains to be seen if PRISM can do in Mizoram what the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) did in Delhi by forming a government. The ZEM was formed the same year under the initiative of senior politicians, retired bureaucrats, serving and retired pastors, prominent journalists, student leaders, etc.

The main political players

Congress won the two previous elections in 2008 and 2013 on the issue of the New Land Use Policy (NLUP) and its reforms to the NLUP with the New Economic Development Programme (NEDP).

The party is confident of retaining power under the leadership of Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, even though it is facing problems from within. Eleven of the sitting MLAs have been denied tickets -- five of them have joined other parties.

The MNF is also confident of coming back to power after warming the opposition benches for a decade. The MNF, under the leadership of party president and former chief minister, Zoramthanga, is banking on its Socio-Economic Development Policy (SEDP). The MNF has got a shot in the arm with two MLAs (among the 11 denied a ticket) and two former ministers from the Congress joining the party.

BJP also seems upbeat with two sitting Congress MLAs joining the party.

With so many parties in the fray, the two-party battle could turn into a six-corner fight. This would be all the more interesting if neither the Congress nor the MNF fail to get a clear majority once the results are out on December 11.

A positive aspect of elections in Mizoram has been that violence, poll rigging and proxy voting are unknown, and the forthcoming election is also expected to be conducted peacefully.

The Mizoram People’s Forum (MPF), an election watch-dog, formed by different church organisations and civil societies, is spearheading an effort to conduct free and fair election by getting political parties to sign a memorandum of understanding.

However, the otherwise peaceful atmosphere has been vitiated after many NGOs and even Lal Thanhawla himself has said that for peaceful elections to be conducted, Chief Electoral Officer, SB Shashank should be removed. Youth groups are also protesting alleging that Shashank is biased towards ‘Bru’ voters and for removing the Principal Home Secretary.

(Jangkhongam Doungel is professor, Department of Political Science, Mizoram University, Aizawl, Mizoram. Views are personal)

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