BJP, ZNP, HPC withdraw from the United Democratic Front

In a sudden turn of events, the Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP), BJP and the Hmar People's Convention (HPC) have withdrawn from the United Democratic Front (UDF).

The formation instead would be in fray from the lone Lok Sabha seat as part of National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The decision followed the eight-party alliance (UDF) failing to reach consensus on the issue of the common candidate for the alliance. 

The Mizo National Front (MNF), the Mizoram People's Conference (MPC) and the Maraland Democratic Front (MDF) wanted the common candidate for the Lok Sabha polls to be someone having no political affiliation and acceptable to the people while the ZNP wanted to have one of its leaders as the nominee of the UDF.

The ZNP, the BJP and the HPC yesterday signed an MoU to form an alliance and contest the election to the lone Lok Sabha seat and by-election to the Hrangturzo assembly seat to he held on April nine. 

MNF legislature party leader and former Lok Sabha member Vanlalzawma said that the MNF and other alliance partner decided to go ahead and contest the coming Parliamentary polls under the banner of the UDF. The UDF was yet to announce the name of its candidate while the ruling Congress had named the sitting MP C L Ruala as its official nominee for the Lok Sabha elections.