GUWAHATI: Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), an alliance of seven regional parties in Mizoram, is in talks with Congress on the possibility of a “non-BJP” alliance at the national level.
Confirming this to The Shillong Times on Thursday, ZPM leader, Lalduhoma said three representatives each from ZPM and Mizoram Congress had met on Wednesday to discuss such a prospect.
“Yesterday, we had the first meeting with Congress in this regard and the matter would be subsequently referred to a higher committee. But this is not a plan to have an alliance with Congress in Mizoram alone. We are thinking in the larger perspective as we look to unite all non-BJP parties at the national level. It’s in accordance with principle,” he said.
Laduhoma, who had started his political career with the Indian National Congress in 1984, alleged that the ruling Mizo National Front would continue to be looked upon as a “communal force” so long as it is affiliated to the BJP-floated North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), a political coalition of non-Congress parties formed in 2016.
“The secular forces, which also include Congress, will have to unite and the fight the communal forces,” the Opposition leader who triumphed in two seats in the state Assembly election last year, said.
On MNF’s opposition to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB), 2016, Lalduhoma said that since the ruling party was a constituent of NEDA, it was not possible for it to aggressively pursue its case against the contentious legislation. “MNF is opposing the Bill just for the sake of it. But for us, it is the main issue now,” the veteran leader said.
On the Meghalaya’s opposition to CAB, he said, “NPP in Meghalaya for that matter are better off than MNF as the party has spoken against the Bill openly.”
Asked whether the “bigger alliance” move would be in conflict with the party’s principle, given that the ZPM had taken an anti-Congress stance before the Assembly elections, Lalduhoma said, “The condition before the elections is different to post poll. We are not looking at forming a government now except for a favourable outcome in the by-elections in one seat which will be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections.”