Mizoram Elections 2023: Big names in fray, big issues on minds of voters

Mizoram is set to go to the polls today. The northeastern state will witness elections in 40 Assembly seats with over 8.5 lakh voters eligible to participate. Voting, which will be held at 1,276 polling stations from 7 am to 4 pm, will see 174 candidates in the fray. Votes will be counted on 3 December. But who are the big-name candidates set to contest? And what are the big issues on voters’ minds? Let’s take a closer look: The political situation, big names in fray First, let’s take a brief look at the current political scenario in Mizoram. As per The Quint, history shows that the Christian-dominated state seems to be in the habit of giving its incumbent government two terms. Which would be sweet music to the ears of its ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) led by Chief Minister Zoramthanga – which came to power in 2018 with 26 seats. Meanwhile, the ascendant Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) led by retired IPS officer Lalduhoma, is the main Opposition in the state. The ZPM nabbed eight seats in 2018. The Congress, which won the 2013 polls, was reduced to a distant third place in 2018 – picking up just five seats in the Assembly. The BJP, which opened its account with its first seat in the tiny northeastern state in 2018, has an uphill task ahead of it. Zoramthanga, who has been CM of Mizoram three times, will contest from Aizawl East-I –  a seat he previously won in the 2018 polls.

He will face off in this seat against the Congress’ Lalsanglura Ralte – who is making his political debut.

While the seat is expected to be a two-way tussle between MNF and Congress, ZPM vice-president Lalthansanga will also be looking to make a dent here. Mizoram deputy chief minister Tawnluia, who is the MNF’s senior vice-president, is in contention for the Tuichang seat. Tawnluia is the oldest candidate in the polls. Meanwhile, the ZPM chief Lalduhoma will once again contest from Serchhip. Lalduhoma in 2018 won polls from both Aizawl West-I and Serchhip. [caption id=“attachment_13356052” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] The Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) led by retired IPS officer Lalduhoma. ANI[/caption] The party’s chief ministerial candidate will be taking on the MNF’s  J Malsawmzual Vanchhawng – who is making his poll debut and hails from the Serchhip constituency. Vanchhawng, who was a well-known and senior journalist in the state prior to entering politics, is expected to give Lalduhoma a tough battle. Meanwhile, the state Congress chief Lalsawta, a 77-year-old veteran politico, and ex- state finance minister from 2008 to 2013, will contest from Aizawl West-III. The constituency is expected to see a three-way battle between the Congress, MNF and ZPM. The MNF has nominated K Sawmvela – a political novice – from this seat. However, Lalsawta could be in for a tough time as Sawmvela is famed for his time in the state’s Public Works Department. Sawmvela, who retired in 2020 as engineer-in-chief in 2020, also served as technical adviser to the chief minister at the CMO. The Madhya Pradesh Congress vice-president Lal Thanzara is being fielded from Aizawl North-III Congress stalwart Lalrindika Ralte will contest Hachhek – a key constituency bordering Tripura – the seat he previously won in 2018. Ralte, a Hachhek local, is said to have a strong hold on the constituency – which has been a Congress stronghold since 2008. Ralte will be up against MNF’s Robert Romawia Royte – the state’s sports minister. People in the know said MNF leadership urged Royte to contest from Hachhek instead of his current constituency of Aizawl East-II as they believed he has the best shot of unseating Ralte.

Mizoram BJP unit president Vanlalhmuaka will be contesting from Dampa Dampa.

K Beichhua, who joined the BJP after resigning from the MNF, will be contesting from his home constituency of Siaha. Beichhua had held multiple portfolios, including social welfare, excise and animal husbandry in the Zoramthanga government. He resigned from the Zoramthanga ministry on 13 December. [caption id=“attachment_13356072” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Mizoram BJP unit president Vanlalhmuaka will be contesting from Dampa Dampa. ANI[/caption] The ruling MNF expelled Beichhua as a primary member of the party on 25 January along with the chairman of the Mara Autonomous District Council (MADC) N Viakhu for ‘anti-party’ activities. Beichhua has been elected from Siaha constituency on the MNF ticket for two consecutive terms since 2013. The BJP’s Durjya Dhan Chakma, who also quit the MNF recently, has been fielded by the BJP from Chakma majority Tuichawng constituency. Chakma is a former chief Executive Member of Chakma Autonomous District Council. Assembly Speaker Lalrinliana Sailo, who also left the MNF and joined the BJP, will contest from the Mamit seat. Sailo, who won the Chalfilh seat in the 2018 assembly polls, was denied a ticket by the ruling party for the 2023 election. BJP party spokesperson F Lalremsangi will contest from Aizawl South-I seat. What do voters care about? As per Newsclick, the lot of farmers is a key issue. The piece noted that more than half the state’s population earns its income from agriculture. It quoted weekly magazine The Frontier Despatch as saying that the agriculture and horticulture sectorsare employing more and more people in the state. Newsclick quoted Zomuana SR, president of the Farming Corporation of Serchhip, as saying, “Zawlpui is a major agricultural area. The extension of NH 54 created huge problems for the paddy growers here as cutting of the hills caused landslides that filled the paddy fields. Back in 2019, we gave a memorandum to the deputy commissioner of the district.”

“In 2022, the loss was less, but in 2023, it was worst,” he said.

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“A minister belonging to the MNF also visited the place, but nothing was done. Till September 2023, landslides happened that filled our paddy fields.’ Others say corruption is also a big issue. The website quoted Chana, a taxi driver in Aizawl, as saying, “The incumbent government and also the present CM have lied to the people of Mizoram. There are huge corruption allegations against them. Corruption means mishandling of public money, which could have been utilised providing employment to the youths.” “…corruption and the rampant unemployment in Mizoram cannot be overlooked. There has to be a new policy and change,” Chana concluded. [caption id=“attachment_13355332” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Polling officials collect EVMs and other election material at a distribution centre ahead of voting for Mizoram Assembly elections. PTI[/caption] Meanwhile, an ABP News and C-Voter opinion poll shed some fascinating insight’s into the public’s mind. Asked to assign blame for the Manipur crisis, 11.6 per cent remained undecided or chose not to reply, while 14.2 per cent blamed the former UPA government. Another 37.7 per cent blamed the Centre for not intervening in a timely fashion, while 36.6% per cent pointed the finger at successive state governments. On refugees arriving from Burma, a huge chunk of those polled, 57.9 per cent, said they should take them in but expressed worry about the state in the long run. Another 24.3 per cent said they did not want refugees, while 6.5 per cent said it would benefit Mizoram in the long run. The rest 11.3 per cent did not answer the question or could not make up their minds. With inputs from agencies