BJP quest to bloom lotus in Mizoram Assembly faces great wall of Mizo National Front in elections

Star campaigners from the neighbouring states of Assam, Tripura and Manipur are also campaigning in various constituencies of Mizoram. In an attempt to solidify its chances, BJP has chosen Himanta Biswa Sarma — who successfully dethroned age-old left parties in Tripura earlier this year — to be the party’s election in-charge in Mizoram. The BJP released its manifesto on 20 November during party president Shah’s visit to the state, which included promises such as inclusion of the Mizo language in the 8th schedule of constitution, releasing arrears as per the Seventh Pay Commission within three months of coming to power, providing rice at Re 1/kg, providing adequate banking facilities in rural areas and a house for all the homeless families under Prime Minister’s Aawas Yojana within three years. Star campaigners from the neighbouring states of Assam, Tripura and Manipur are also campaigning in various constituencies of Mizoram — including Sarma, Manipur agriculture minister V Hangkhanlian, and Tripura MLA Pramod Reang among others. ‘BJP, Congress can’t understand our issues’ Zoramthanga, too, thinks the saffron party is not fit for a state like Mizoram.