From Our Special Correspondent
GUWAHATI: Former Mizoram chief minister and Mizo National Front president, Zoramthanga is confident of securing an absolute majority in the November 28 Assembly elections.
“We are confident of winning 25 to 30 seats this time. As for Congress, their citadel is crumbling down day by day and I don’t think they will get even 10 seats,” a confident Zoramthanga told The Shillong Times over the phone on Monday.
The Mizoram Assembly has 40 seats and already the MNF is blowing the poll bugle loud and clear, as it gears up campaigning after announcing nominations for all the seats.
“Our preparations are in full swing and the election campaign has started across the state. We have selected all the candidates,” the 74-year-old veteran politician said.
MNF, which is a part of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (formed to make the Northeast Congress “free” region), had earlier announced that it was contesting the elections alone.
Asked whether there the regional party would stitch any post-poll alliance, he said, “We cannot say so because I doubt whether BJP or the small parties will win even one seat in the election. The question of forging a post-poll alliance therefore does not arise.”
On his agenda, Zoramthanga said that there was much to do in regard to ushering in development and uplifting the economy.
“The state has been lagging behind when it comes to economic growth. The road infrastructure will have to be improved. Besides, liquor sale which has been going on in the state little over three years now will have to be stopped what with all the Church denominations opposing the practice,” the MNF chief said.
The hill state has seen an election battle primarily between Congress and MNF since the mid-eighties, with the two parties having a fair share in the citadels of power between 1984 and 2018.
After a decade’s rule by the MNF and Mizoram People’s Conference (MPC) combine since 1998, Congress returned to power in 2008 by bagging 32 seats and again in 2013 by winning 34 seats in the 40-member House.
But the scales keep tilting in politics, and Congress in Mizoram (currently the last bastion of the party in the Northeast in the wake of a resurgent regional alliance), despite being on the hot seat for two consecutive terms, is up against a tough challenge from its “traditional” rival this time.
Apparently, internal bickering and the anti-incumbency factor might haunt the grand old party. The recent resignation of former minister Lalrinliana Sailo is also seen as a major setback for the incumbent party, and already, cracks have begun to appear in its rank and file, with more members likely to desert the party and join MNF.
Chief minister Lal Thanhawla had recntly alleged that his former Cabinet colleagues R Lalzirliana and Lalrinliana Sailo were “corrupt” when they were ministers. Lalzirliana, who was the state home minister, was served a showcause notice by the Congress’ Disciplinary Action Committee (DAC) and subsequently expelled from the party last month.