Six candidates remained in the fray for election to the lone Lok Sabha seat in Mizoram, with none of the candidates withdrawing their nominations on the last day of withdrawal of candidature on Saturday,
Officials of the state election department confirmed that the coming election to the Mizoram Lok Sabha seat will be a six-corner contest and the date of polling is scheduled on April 19 during the first phase of the 7-phase general elections.
Those in the fray include two candidates from the recognised national party – Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) nominee Vanlalhmuaka and Indian National Congress (INC) candidate Lalbiakzama. Two candidates from recognized regional parties – Richard Vanlalhmangaiha of the ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) and K. Vanlalvena of the Mizo National Front (MNF).
Contest for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls for Mizoram constituency also include lone woman candidate Rita Malsawmi of the People’s Conference (PC), which is not a recognised party, but a registered party with the Election Commission of India. Lalhriatrenga Chhangte is the lone independent candidate to contest the Lok Sabha elections for the Mizoram seat.
Lone Rajya Sabha member Vanlalvena, who now contests the Lok Sabha polls has said that he will sit in the BJP-led NDA alliance if elected. ZPM nominee Vanlalhmangaiha said that the decision to join the NDA or INDIA bloc will be decided by the party if and once elected to the lower house of the Parliament.
Malsawmi of PC and independent nominee Chhangte have not said anything about joining either of the party alliances.
The ruling ZPM’s Vanlalhmangaiha main plank for the coming Lok Sabha polls is development and receiving more financial assistance from the centre for fulfilling its flagship programme ‘Bana Kaih’ or hand-holding policy and purchase of cash crops produced by the farmers of the state by allocating more funds in the budget as price support. He promised to work for the state government by getting more funds from the centre over and above the state budget.
The MNF nominee, while also promising to cooperate with the ZPM government at the state, said that he would be the best person to oppose any moves made by the central government which are detrimental to the interests of Mizoram and the Mizo people. Vanlalvena even said that he would not hesitate to snap ties with the NDA (if he retains power) if the saffron party-led places in peril the culture, tradition and religion of the people of Mizoram.
INC candidate Lalbiakzama is banking on the anti-BJP sentiments in the Christian-dominated state by saying that he should win to counter the alleged attempts by the saffron brigade to do away with secularism and religious freedom in the country by establishing a ‘Hindu kingdom’.
BJP nominee Vanlalhmuaka’s main agenda is to ‘expose’ the Congress party’s ‘false propaganda’ by accusing the saffron party of anti-Christians and persecuting people following Christian faith across the country.
PC candidate Malsawmi said that she has the expertise and capability to receive funds from different ministries at the centre to help entrepreneurs and workers in the state. Independent candidate Chhangte has yet to announce his policy except that he contested as independent after the state PCC refused to give him the ticket.
