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The Mizo National Front (MNF). However, the other feature of any party not ruling the state for more than two consecutive terms have been proved right again with the return of the Mizo National Front (MNF) to power after a decade of wilderness in the opposition, the period which also witnessed the State Legislative Assembly session without the party President, Zoramthanga.
Political parties, in fray in the just concluded election were the Indian National Congress (INC), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) from the national parties; Mizo National Front (MNF) and Meghalaya based National People Party (NPP) from regional parties; whereas, two recognized regional parties of Mizoram, namely, Mizoram People Conference (MPC) and the Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) did not put up candidates but they fought from the platform of the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM).
The Eighth Mizoram State Legislative Assembly Election could be said as one
of the most heated and most watched election, Mizoram ever had. The reason being, the Congress tried to create Mizoram electoral record to form its third consecutive government with the slogan of New Economic Development Programme (NEDP) and some of the AICC leaders also campaigned in the state. The Congress was so confident to win and it contested all the 40 seats. The MNF also tried to regain power with its Socio-Economic Development Policy (SEDP) and the interesting thing was that, although MNF was part of NDA Alliance at the Centre and part of North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) in North East, the MNF distanced itself from the BJP and NEDA during election campaign of the State Legislative Assembly in Mizoram. The reason being, BJP is regarded as fundamentalist Hindu based party by many people. The MNF also promised that it would introduce total prohibition of liquor if it formed government. The MNF contested all the 40 seats and the party high ranking leaders were so confident of securing single majority to form government without alliance with other parties. The joining of MNF by two former Cabinet Minister and high ranking Congress leader, Mr. R. Lalzirliana and Mr. Lalrinliana Sailo also made the MNF more confident of forming government. The BJP campaigned on the issue of Congress Mukh North East and good governance, as such, top ranking BJP leaders visited the state from time to time. Even Amit Shah and Narendra Modi also campaigned in the state. The BJP contested 38 seats and it tried all the possible efforts to open its account in the Mizoram Legislative Assembly election. The BJP was confident of opening its account in the Mizoram Legislative Assembly with the entry of Dr B.D. Chakma, former Congress Minister and Mr. Hiphei, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in the Seventh Term.
Election process was disturbed for few days due to mishandling of sensitive issue by S.B. Shashank who was the Chief Electoral Officer but normalcy returned with the recall of Shashank and appointment of Mr Ashish Kundra as the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO). The civil societies and NGO Co-ordination Committee, which rose in revolt because of mishandling of sensitive issue by Shashank could be fruitfully utilized by Kundra. As a matter of fact, polling was done peacefully and successfully without any untoward incidence like before and the apprehension and fears psychosis of S.B. Shashank was totally proved wrong by the peaceful conduct of election. The credit for free and fair conduct of election should also goes to the Mizoram People Forum (MPF) which is an election watch-dog organization, established in 2006 by churches and civil societies.
The election result surprised one and all because for the first time in the electoral history of Mizoram, third party, that is, the ZPM surprisingly emerged as the second dominant party in the State Legislative Assembly. It was confirmed that the MNF party won 26 out of 40 seats it contested. The ZPM occupies the second place by winning 8 seats where the Chief Ministerial candidate, Pu Lalduhawma won from two constituencies, he contested Lalduhawma also defeated the incumbent Chief Minister and Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President, Lalthanhawla from Serchhip Constituency by a margin of 410 votes. The ruling INC could win only 5 seats and BJP opened its account by winning a solitary seat. The MNF President, Zoramthanga won from Aizawl East I Constituency by defeating his nearest rival K. Sapdanga of the ZPM by a margin of 2504 votes and he gets the chance to return to State Legislative Assembly after a gap of ten years, that also as Chief Minister. The highest margin of victory in the eight State Legislative Assembly elections was Mr Lalruatkima of MNF from Aizawl West II Constituency, where, he defeated his nearest rival Dr Lalmalsawma Nghaka of INC by a margin of 2720 votes. Whereas, the lowest margin of victory was Lalchhandama Ralte of the MNF from Tuivawl Constituency, where, he defeated his nearest rival, RL Pianmawia of the INC by a margin of 3 votes. Congress candidates from Lunglei West Constituency, Chalrosanga Ralte were defeated by a margin of 77 votes by C. Lalrinsanga of the MNF.
The humiliating result for the Congress (INC) was that the incumbent Chief Minister, Lalthanhawla was defeated from both the constituencies, he contested. In Champhai South, he was defeated by a new face, a young MNF candidate, Mr T.J. Lalnuntluanga; whereas, he was defeated by Lalduhawma from his traditional, Serchhip Constituency. Only two from the Lalthanhawla Council of Minister, namely, Mr Zodintluanga from Thorang and Mr. C. Ngunlianchunga from Lawngtlai West were elected. Further, Congress was exactly in the position of the MNF of the previous term with 5 seats in the Assembly. It should also be recollected that two prominent leaders of Congress who joined the MNF party on the eve of election, namely, R. Lalzirliana, Home Minister under Lalthanhawla led Government and Lalrinliana Sailo, Health Minister in the previous term of Lalthanhawla Government, won from their respective constituencies of Tawi and Chalfilh respectively where they contested. R. Lalzirliana was inducted as Cabinet Minister in charge of Power & Electricity, Minority & District Council Affairs etc, whereas, Lalrinliana Sailo was elected as Speaker without contest. The Congress won one seat each from Lawngtlai District, Siaha District and Mamit District and it won 2 seats from Lunglei District. Many reasons were cited for the defeat of Congress party in the election, such as, denial of party ticket to 11 sitting MLAs of the Seventh term, sell of liquor, attempt for family and dynastic rule, infighting within the party, bad road across the state etc.
Prof. Jangkhongam Doungel
Department of Political Science
Mizoram University
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