Mizoram goes to the hustings on November 7 and as one criss-crossed part of the state last week, the usual poll-hungama of rallies, buntings, cut-outs of political leaders on highways, the countryside or in the two main towns, door-to-door canvassing, was conspicuously amiss. Instead, a group of party workers would point you to a make-shift stall or hall for some tea and snacks.
It is not because they are laidback. Anything but that! Talk to people from across segments of society and the election buzz is strong in this predominantly Christian mountainous state. As top leaders descend from New Delhi to woo the electorate for the 40-member Legislative Assembly, the sense one gets is that in many pockets the mind has already been made up!
Presumptive too much?
Kim, who plies his Maruti 800 yeah, this sturdy model that has all but disappeared from the big metros has landed big time in this state (upgraded, I am told) and lumbers uphill at times smooth or a drag depending on how old it is is the son of a deceased member of the assembly (MLA) from the Congress party, and tells me as we drive down to Lengpui Airport, “People want change. They have had enough of big parties from Delhi. They want to give a chance to a local outfit.” A statement I heard many a times in the capital town of Aizawl, and Lunglei, the second most important town in the state
Looking for a Change
Driving the people’s mood for a change is the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) led by a former IPS officer turned politician Lalduhoma who started his political journey in 1984 when he got elected to the Lok Sabha on a Congress ticket. He was one of the key men the Grand Old Party turned to, to help resolve the insurgency led by Laldenga of the Mizo National Front (MNF). This was in 1986.
The 74-year-old Lalduhoma now leads ZPM, a six regional party alliance, which has emerged as a strong contender after handsome wins in recent municipal elections, threatening the alternate-two-term rule of the Mizo National Front (MNF) and the Congress.
While the ruling MNF, the Congress and the ZPM are contesting all the 40 seats, the BJP is fighting for only 23, and the Aam Aadmi Party is making its electoral debut in this land of the Blue Mountains by fielding four candidates. In the last assembly elections in 2018, the BJP had contested 39 seats.
The ruling MNF has 28 seats in the current Assembly, the ZPM 8, Congress 5, and the BJP one.
