Our Bureau
AIZAWL/GUWAHATI: The Mizo National Front (MNF), which is contesting all the 40 Assembly seats, hopes to form the government this time by toppling the Congress.
The Front leader, Pu Zawma, told The Shillong Times that the party is expecting victory in over 25 seats this time as there is a “need for change”.
About post-poll alliance in case the party misses the magic number, Zawma said “that we will see later”.
The party has categorically denied any pre-poll understanding with any party ahead of the November 28 Assembly elections.
MNF sources on Monday reiterated that they were fighting the Assembly elections in all the 40 seats on their own, denying any “secret understanding” with BJP.
“We have been accused of walking together with BJP, which we deny. In fact, both BJP national president, Amit Shah, and North East Democratic Alliance convenor, Himanta Biswa Sarma, had during their visits to Mizoram stated that the BJP is not going for an alliance with MNF,” a party member said.
The party is fighting the election on development agenda. Pathetic road condition is one of the highlights. “If we form the government then building better road connectivity will be our priority. We also want to empower farmers and the rural populace. Socio-economic uplift is also in the manifesto,” said Zawma, adding that MNF wants to implement the State Programme Implementation Plans, or SPIP.
Asked whether money power is a cause for concern as perceived by many, Zawma answered in negative. “I do not think it is a worry as always because we always have free and fair polls in Mizoram,” he added.
Meanwhile, MNF held a crucial meeting at the party headquarters in Aizawl on Monday to deliberate and discuss strategy for the Assembly elections which are just about two weeks away.
Top party leaders including MNF chief, Zoramthanga, former state home minister R. Lalzirliana and former health minister Lalrinliana Sailo, attended the meeting, sources said. Both Lalzirliana and Sailo were in the Congress before joining MNF recently.
The incumbent Congress, which currently has a depleted squad of 28 MLAs, apparently is up against a tough challenge in the wake of not just a bolstered principal rival in MNF, but also BJP looking for a toe hold in the saffron party’s “final frontier in the Northeast” and a regional alliance waiting in the wings for its share in the House.
Party sources even hinted that BJP with its “Hindutva ideology” was “not acceptable” in a Christian state like Mizoram. “That being the general perception and MNF representing the people of Mizoram with hundreds joining the party every day, we stand a very good chance in winning close to 30 seats. Congress too is losing the confidence of the people,” the MNF member said.