The Congress party on 16 October released a list of 39 candidates for the upcoming Mizoram Assembly elections. Congress has fielded Lalsanglura Ralte from the Aizwal East-I constituency, currently held by Mizo National Front (MNF) president and Chief Minister Zoramthanga.
While Mizoram Congress Committee Chief Lalsawta has been fielded from Aizawl West-III (ST), Lalnunmawia Chuaungo has been given the party ticket from Aizawl North-I (ST). Moreover, Lalrindika Ralte will contest from Hachhek (ST), Lalhmingthanga Sailo from Dampa (ST) and Lalrinmawia from Aizawl North-II.The announcement came at a time when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is on a two-day visit to the poll-bound state to campaign for party candidates.
Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi arrived on a two-day visit to Mizoram. Upon his arrival, Gandhi also took part in a Padyatra from Chanmari (in Aizawl) to the Raj Bhawan. In a 40-member Mizoram Assembly, the Mizo National Front bagged 28 seats with a vote share of 37.8 per cent to emerge victorious in the 2018 polls. Congress secured five seats and BJP won one seat.
Polls will be held in Mizoram on 7 November, Chhattisgarh in two phases on 7 and 17 November, Madhya Pradesh on 17 November, Rajasthan on 25 November and Telangana on 30 November. The counting of votes will take place on 3 December for all five states. The Model Code of Conduct has come into force with the announcement of poll dates. The elections to five states are crucial as they are being held months before the Lok Sabha elections in April-May next year.
In terms of vote share, the Congress remains the second-largest party in Mizoram. However, ahead of the 2023 Assembly election, the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) has replaced the Congress as the principal Opposition while the MNF is seeking a second term. The ZPM is focusing on “changing the system.” Professor Lalnilawma, the ZPM candidate from Tawi constituency, is very confident about his party’s prospects. He said, “Most young and new voters are now looking for a change in the political system in the State. The political consciousness of the youth is stronger this time than in previous elections.”
The MNF is encouraging ethno-nationalism and Zo-ethnic unity, and is confident of returning to power. Pu Zoramthanga, Chief Minister and MNF president, said: “It is a privilege that we have Mizoram, the most peaceful State in the world, which can provide refuge to our brethren seeking peace and shelter.” Some rural voters, however, have a poor opinion of the MNF government’s performance. Veronica Lalfangkimi Hmar, of Tanhril village in Aizawl district, said: “The MNF government did not do anything good in the name of development and there is no single poll promise to see on the ground.”
However, the ZPM has in the past struggled in rural areas, where the Congress has its core constituency. In fact, the ZPM has put up new faces as candidates in more than half the seats. So has the Congress, which is emphasising secular politics. The Congress has formed an alliance with two like-minded parties—the People’s Conference and Zoram Nationalist Party, originally a ZPM faction—and two civil society organisations. The two parties support the Congress but are not contesting the election separately.
The MNF, ZPM, and the Congress have now announced candidates who will contest across all 40 constituencies. Mizoram BJP president Vanlalhmuaka said the party would contest all 40 seats and has the list of candidates ready. The BJP has historically fielded more women candidates than the other three parties. In 2018, the Congress and the MNF contested all 40 seats. The MNF won 28 and the Congress five. The BJP contested 39 seats and won one. The ZPM candidates contested as independents, and it has six seats.