Mizoram gears up for Assembly polls

The state will go to polls on November 29 when political leaders will be more interested in gauging the mood of the people with regard to the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, reports Elora Sen.

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November 29 will be the D-day for this North-eastern state as Mizoram goes to Assembly polls along with Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi.

A prelude to the Lok Sabha polls due next year, these elections will no doubt be indications of how the voters will treat their political leaders. Stakes are always high for Indian politicians whenever they face the electorate, and this time will be no exception. Also, Mizo leaders would naturally want to gauge the mood of the electorate before they face the Lok Sabha elections too.

A relatively young state - Mizoram was formally accorded statehood in 1987 - it has no dearth of political intrigue and the fight for power between the ruling Mizo National Front and the Congress is an open battle.

MNF president and chief minister Zoramthanga has never lost an election and in 1998, when the last Assembly elections were held, he became the fifth chief minister of Mizoram. A close associate of the legendary Laldenga, he has been able to continue to be the driving force of MNF and is their chosen chief ministerial candidate for the coming polls too.

However, he may not have it very easy as the ruling MNF faces charges of corruption and the main opposition in the state, the Congress, led by former chief minister Lalthanhawla, will make that the focus of their election campaign.

Whether the Congress will succeed or not and whether Lalthanhawla will be able to cash in on his previous charisma will be seen only after the election results are out, but the fight will be critical.

Another force that may play a significant role this time is the rise of a third front. The Zoram Nationalist Party and the Mizoram Peoples' Convention are joining hands to form an alliance and may take part in the elections. But it is also possible that this alliance may also join hands with the bigger political forces in the state, and the next few days will see an unfolding of that drama.

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