Mizoram polls: How Congress, BJP are positioned amid fight between MNF, ZPM
Hindustan TimesThe Congress in Mizoram, which was removed from power and relegated to the third place with five seats in 2018 polls, is hoping for a comeback in the state in the upcoming polls while the Bharatiya Janata Party, which managed to win one seat five years ago, is aiming to be part of the next government. Unlike the other four poll-bound states, the two national parties aren’t the frontliners in Mizoram as the race for power seems to be between two regional outfits, ruling Mizo National Front, which bagged 26 of the 40 seats in 2018, and the Zoram Peoples Movement, who came second last time securing 8 seats. Though the MNF is part of the National Democratic Alliance government at Centre and a constituent of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance in the region, both parties don’t have any tie-up in Mizoram, the only state in northeast where the BJP is not leading a government or a part of the ruling coalition. If the BJP wins 2-3 seats, it should consider itself lucky and the Congress won’t be able to surpass its 2018 tally of 5 seats,” said J Doungel, professor of political science at Mizoram University.