In Mizoram state assembly elections, Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) appears to be poised to improve its past tally of 8 seats. Corruption and plight of kuki zo refugees from Manipur and Myanmar appear to propelling the electoral prospects of ZPM. It could double its tally from the last assembly elections. It seems the ZPM is denting the support base of both Mizo National Front (MNF) and Congress.
In the last Assembly elections, MNF won 27 seats and secured 37.70 per cent of the votes. Congress won only four seats and secured 29.98 per cent of the votes, while ZPM won eight seats with a total of 22.4 per cent.
In the current elections MNF’s political alliance with BJP led NDA will take it’s toll, notwithstanding Zoramthanga’s refusal to share the dias with PM Modi. Events in Manipur have projected BJP as a party inimical to the Christians and Kuki Zo community. It’s reasonable to assume that MNF may suffer losses in double digits from its last election tally.
2) Congress is facing a twin assault on its vote base. From ZPM for Mizo votes and from BJP for non- Mizo votes such as the Chakma, Nepali and Bru community. It will be an achievement if Congress were to retain its seat tally from last elections.
3) BJP is facing very strong headwinds in the Mizo constituencies and is in contest only in constituencies with a sizable non-Mizo electorate. It can win upto two seats but win in one seat appears more realistic given that it’s star campaigner PM Modi canceled his live campaign.
There is a strong possibility of a hung assembly with Congress holding the key to the post-election government formation.
- Kumar Sanjay Singh is Associate Professor Department of History, Swami Shraddhanand College, Delhi University. Views expressed are personal.