Poll scene in Mizoram

Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga’s announcement that he will not share the platform with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during canvassing for the Assembly election due on November 7 stands out as the most defining feature of the poll scene in the tiny state in the North East.

Mizoram is the only state in the region where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has the least presence in the political sphere, although the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) is part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Power in Mizoram has mainly alternated between MNF led by Chief Minister Zoramthanga and the Congress led by former CM Lalthanhawla since 1989, two years after the state was formed.

But of late, Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) which won six seats in 2018 has emerged as the main rival of the MNF. Congress with five seats in the outgoing Assembly is also one among the major claimants to power while the BJP seems to be facing the popular wrath following neighbouring Manipur Government’s abject failure in containing riots against Kuki-Zo tribes whose majority follows Christian faith.

This became the major cause for the MNF to keep distance from the BJP. Although MNF has not declared its intention to unhinge itself from the NDA, it loathes the idea of being seen in cahoots with the BJP with Zoramthanga refusing to share the stage with the Prime Minister Modi. MNF, ZPM and the Congress have fielded their candidates on all the 40 seats while the BJP has fielded its candidates on 27 seats.

Weight of incumbency is the major negative factor for the MNF. Regional outfit Lalduhoma-led ZPM, a union of seven regional outfits, is putting up a stiff fight.

However, MNF draws comfort from an ascendant ZPM and hopes that it and the Congress would splinter the anti-MNF votes and brighten its winning prospect by default.

But with Congress bigwigs like Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Vadra and Jairam Ramesh campaigning for the party, it is not certain if the MNF can afford to revel in optimism.