The Congress is trounced in the Mizoram Assembly polls. The Mizo National Front (MNF) romped in after ten years. Seventy four year old MNF Chief Zoramthanga is slated to be Chief Minister. The state has a Christian majority and the House has 40 members. The Congress has surprisingly trailed behind in the third position securing only three seats. The MNF captured as many as 26 seats. The Zoram People’s Movement – an alliance of non-Congress-non-MNF parties and was formed last year, won eight seats, coming in second. The BJP could grab only one seat in the Chakma Autonomous District. In 2013, the Congress won 24 seats and the MNF 5. This time Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla lost from both Champhai and Serchip.
The MNF won an absolute majority riding a strong anti-incumbency wave. It promised total prohibition and pledged to implement its socio-economic development agenda especially the land policy. Lal Thanhawla attributed his party’s defeat to the people’s desire for change. The Congress had underestimated the Zoram People’s Front. The Church had played a significant role in the elections especially by backing total prohibition. What brought about the rout of the Congress was neglect of infrastructure and cronyism. The main feature of the elections was that the BJP which had been digging in for a number of years could win only one seat which goes along with its decline in some other states.
However, this election in Mizoram was less about political parties but more about an enlightened citizenry voting out a Government that has been involved in corruption and had become complacent about its commitment to deliver governance. Anti-incumbency happens because governments take voters for granted and the elected believe they are invincible. Political parties are inherently self-seeking and will do anything to remain in power. In that common quest, all of them are the same. There are very few distinguishing features. BJP’s repeated claim about a Congress mukht North East is as hollow as it can get. The Congress will bounce back and will continue to be evaluated by its delivery than by its so called secular credentials. The Congress has been in power in the past and is therefore tried and tested and often found wanting. Now it remains to be seen how the Congress rules Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and if the farmers will get their dues as promised. The farmers’ distress is a constant thing in India. Hence political parties need to sit together to thrash out these issues of perennial concern.