New Delhi/Aizawl: There is “no hostile relationship” between AICC and Mizoram Congress, said state unit party spokesman Lallianchhunga as he attempted to dismiss argument that the state leaders have ‘rejected’ the list of candidates announced in Delhi.
“There is no hostile relationship between AICC and Mizoram state Congress,” Lallianchhunga told UNI. “We are working together, we are working for the best interest of the party. AICC also knows that,” he said.
He maintained there has been always a “functional autonomy” for Mizoram Congress with regard to the Congress high command and thus often when tickets are given by the AICC, it is only the state leadership which finally had to endorse and allot the tickets to party candidates.
The Mizoram Congress spokesman was answering questions regarding former state Assembly Speaker Hiphei “rejecting” the Congress ticket after his name appeared in the list released by AICC general secretary Mukul Wasnik in Delhi in October.
Mizoram Congress leaders, however, said Hiphei are “not the official candidates” of the Congress party.
Hiphei on November 5 quit as Speaker and state legislator from Palak constituency and joined the BJP.
Prior to this, Hiphei had camped in Guwahati and Delhi and met important leaders like Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah and Himanta Biswa Sarma and worked out his political move.
Lallianchhunga maintained that contrary to what Hiphei later said by blaming Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla who is also Mizoram state Congress president, it was Hiphei’s personal decision to part ways from Congress.
“Had Hiphei had faith in AICC list, he should have stuck to the party and contest elections on Congress ticket. But the fact of the matter is at the local level, the party workers did not want him and so he did not get adequate support in the recommendation panel,” the spokesman said.
Moreover, Lallianchhunga claimed that the resignation by former Speaker Hiphei and at least other senior Congress ministers and legislators will not have any electoral impact on the prospect of Congress party in the ensuing polls.
“This I say, because their political move was purely based on personal vested interest and opportunism,” he maintained.
Four senior Congress leaders, including the former Home Minister had quit Congress and either joined MNF or BJP in last two months.
Giving a major political jolt to the ruling Congress, Mizoram Speaker and party veteran Hiphei on November 5 resigned from his constitutional post and gave up his membership in the state legislature.
He formally dissociated himself from the Congress party and joined BJP.
To a question, he also has said, in political sense there is “no difference” between the Congress and the BJP but he felt hurt and anguished with the Congress Mizoram chief and Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla.
“The Chief Minister did not show any sympathy or respect to me. Ticket is not important. I would have got it from high command, but the issues closer to my people and my respect is important,” Hiphei alleged.
According to sources close to Hiphei, a group of party workers had met Chief Minister and Mizoram Congress president Lal Thanhawla back in October to sort out the differences between the two senior leaders. However, Lal Thanhawla was “not interested” and told them that several Congress leaders have quit Congress, and if Hiphei was not happy, he could do so as well.
The Mizoram Congress spokesman, however, denied that Hiphei was shown any disrespect by the party. (UNI)
