Finally, North-East is ?Congress Mukt?

Leaving aside all arguments and brainstorming debates, one can just put a statement that the outcome of Mizoram Assembly elections brought smiles to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership as the party has opened the account there and finally made the northeast India Congress Mukt (free from Congress rule).

This is amazing as four years back; also, the Congress used to rule six states in the region except for Tripura (then under CPM rule) and Sikkim (under Pawan Kr Chamling led SDF, which is an ally to the NDA at the Centre). Soon after the BJP won general elections in 2014 and Shri Narendra Modi became Prime Minister of Bharat, the Congress started losing the North Eastern States.

Today, the Congress has been overpowered by the nationalist party to establish its rule (along with the allies) in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura. With the Mizoram poll verdict, the dream of BJP to make the region free of Congress rule has been materialised. Moreover, it happens for the first time since Independence.

The clear winner in the Assembly elections, held on November 28 (results were declared on 11 December), was Mizo National Front (MNF), which had lost the last two consecutive Assembly polls to the Congress. However, this time the regional party that ruled Mizoram from 1998 to 2008 won 26 seats in the 40-member State Legislative Assembly and paved the way to form the government in Aizawl once again.

The Congress not only failed to achieve the mandate to continue its rule in Mizoram, which was always known as a stronghold for the party, but also came third with only five seats in the tally after the MNF and the Zoram People’s Movement, an umbrella political forum comprising likeminded small political party and groups, which won eight seats. The MNF president and former State Chief Minister Pu Zoram Thanga recorded his poll victory from Aizawl East Assembly constituency to stack claim for the hot seat again. An insurgent leader turned politician Zoram Thanga has already declared that his party would continue its alliance with the BJP led National Democratic Alliance.The bad news was waiting for the five-time Chief Minister and veteran Congress leader Pu Lalthanhawla, who fought elections in two Assembly constituencies (Champhai South and Serchhip) and faced defeat in both the seats. The last Assembly had 34 Congress legislators in contrast to five MNF members. This time it has been reversed for the Congress in the poll battles.

Fighting as independent candidates, the ZPM nominees like Lalduhoma, Andrew H Thangliana, Vanlalhlana, VL Zaithanzama, C Lalsawivunga, Lalchhuanthanga had the last laugh in the electoral battles. Other MNF nominees, who succeeded in the exercise, include Lalrintluanga Sailo, H Lalzirliana, K Lalrinliana, Lalrinsanga Ralte, Lalchhandama Ralte, Lalrinliana Sailo, R Lalzirliana, C Lalmuanpuia, etc. For the BJP, Buddha Dan Chakma brought good news from Tuichawng Assembly constituency in Chakma dominated area of South Mizoram bordering Bangladesh. The BJP had already made its presence in the local government (autonomous council) there, and with its various development activities, the party has seemingly attracted the voters.

Moreover, the poll campaigns were graced by heavyweight BJP leaders including the national president Amit Shah, Prime Minister Modi, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, DoNER Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, Assam’s powerful minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, etc.. For the Congress candidates, only its national president Rahul Gandhi arrived for election-related public meetings there.

Mizoram has already earned appreciations for the peaceful elections, where over 80 per cent electorate (out of over 7,70,000 voters) exercised their franchise through electronic voting machines (EVM) in a free and fair atmosphere. The hilly State has around 10 lakh population where 94 per cent are tribal, and over 80 per cent are Christian. The picturesque State is recognised as one of the most literate provinces in the country, where most residents can understand and speak English. The women are active in both family and social affairs, but amazingly only a few female candidates come forward to participate in the polls. There was only one lady legislator in the last Assembly and this time no one achieved the success.

Otherwise, only 15 women candidates (out of total 209 nominees) participated in the last elections, where the BJP nominated the highest number of six women candidates. A local party Zoram Thar put five women candidates followed by ZPM (two), the Congress (one) and Nationalist Congress Party (one). The MNF, People’s Representation for Identity & Status of Mizoram (PRISM) and National People’s Party (NPP) did not field any woman contender.