GUWAHATI: Mizoram BJP is fielding the highest number of women candidates among the parties contesting the November 28 election to the 40-member Assembly.
The saffron party has released two lists comprising 37 candidates so far and five among them are women.
The five women fielded by the party are Judy Zohmingliani for Tuivawl, C. Lalnunzri (Aizawl North), F. Lalremsangi (Aizawl South), Laldinngheti (Lengteng) and Laiduhpuii (Tuichang).
Asked whether there was any strategy behind the move, state BJP general secretary, Vanlalhmuaka told The Shillong Times on Sunday that the party wanted to give women a fair share in the contest besides favouring their candidature in the respective constituencies.
“We wanted to give women a fair share in the elections. More importantly, we have nominated them as we feel that they would be able to compete better in their respective constituencies,” he said.
Others such as the Zoram People’s Movement has fielded two women candidates, while the ruling Congress has announced the minister of state for cooperation Vanlalawmpuii Chawngthu as the lone woman nominee of the party.
Rival party, the Mizo National Front does not have any woman aspirants among the 39 nominees listed so far.
The BJP had released its second list of candidates for 24 seats on Friday while the first list of 13 candidates was announced on October 20. The names of the remaining three candidates will be announced soon, party sources said.
The Election Commission (EC) had on Friday announced that November 9 would be the last date for filing nominations to contest the Assembly elections in Mizoram.
The commission further informed that the scrutiny of nominations would take place on November 12 while November 14 has been fixed as the last date for withdrawal of candidatures.
Results of the Assembly elections will be declared on December 11.
While the poll battle will primarily be between Congress and MNF, the BJP, for its part, is making all efforts to make inroads in the Christian state, riding on its presence in six of the other Northeastern states and agenda of overall development.