Issues of “identity”
and people’s welfare took centre stage during the run-up for assembly polls in
Mizoram, with intense election campaigning in the Christian-majority State
coming to an end a day before.
Issues of “neglect
of infrastructure”, corruption and unemployment were also figured out during
the campaigns of various parties.
The main contest
in the State, with almost all its seats reserved for STs, is between the ruling
Mizo National Front (MNF), Congress, and Zoram People’s Movement, with the BJP
keen to emerge as the “kingmaker”.
Ethnic clashes in
neighbouring Manipur have cast a shadow on the polls and the ruling MNF, led by
Chief Minister Zoramthanga, is hopeful that the people are supporting the
stance of the party of giving refuge to some Kuki-Zo community members, who
came from the neighbouring State.
Some Zo-Kukis from
Myanmar have also taken refuge in the State. Observers said MNF has tried to
make ‘Zo unification’ an electoral issue.
While MNF is part
of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance at the Centre, there is no alliance
between the two parties at the State level.
The Congress has raised
issues of culture and identity and has attacked the BJP over the issue. It has reminded
people of the Mizo accord, which heralded peace in the State.
BJP leaders have
talked about their commitment to the welfare of the people of the State.
Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, who gave a video message to the people of the State, said the
BJP has strived to address the aspirations of people in the northeast and
talked of creating a “Marvellous Mizoram”.
Congress president
Kharge accused the ruling MNF of corruption.
ZPM’s chief
ministerial candidate, Lalduhoma, expressed confidence of party’s prospects and
slammed both Congress and MNF.
“Ever since
Mizoram became a State, what we have seen is the rule of Congress and the MNF
in succession. The change was only for the person sitting in the chair of the
Chief Minister, but the system is the same. However, what we offer to the
people is a new system that will be quite different from the previous
governments, and all our policies are based on research, and everything should
be based on research,” he said.
The Zoram People’s
Movement (ZPM) made significant inroads in civic body election earlier this
year.
The rise of the
ZPM is a challenge to the established players with Congress and the MNF having
ruled alternately since its formation.
The Mizoram Chief
Minister has expressed confidence of returning to power in the State.
“We need to form
the government to carry forward the development work that we have started. The
influx of refugees from Myanmar, the situation in Manipur and the refugees
crossing over into our territory from Bangladesh are issues that the elections
would be contested on,” the CM said last month.
“A good number of
refugees have come to Mizoram from Bangladesh. As far as Myanmar is concerned,
the military junta is currently holding the reins of power there. We gave them
(refugees from Myanmar) shelter as they are our brothers and sisters,” he
added.
“The Congress may
win one to two seats or none at all. The biggest challenger is the ZPM (Zoram
People’s Movement). However, I doubt if they will win 10 seats or more. They
might even win less than 10 seats. We have been in existence for 60 years,” he
said.
Some other BJP
leaders also campaigned in the State.
Minister of State
for Home Affairs Pramanik said the way PM Modi is taking care of development in
the country, the people of Mizoram also want a similar pace of progress.
“More and more
people are going to vote for the BJP. We have tried to reach to the people in remote
areas. People from the tribal areas have participated in our rallies and public
meetings,” he said.
“BJP is going to
perform much better than in the past. Only the BJP can develop the Mizos.
Whether it is Mizos or Chakma, if they want proper development, they have to
trust the BJP,” he added.
In the 40-member
Mizoram Assembly, the Mizo National Front bagged 26 seats with a vote share of
37.8 per cent in the 2018 polls. The Congress secured five seats, and the BJP
won one seat.
ANI
