Underdog’s success brings Mizoram Congress’s downfall

The unprecedented success of an underdog, the Zoram People’s Movement of Mizoram (ZPM), which was largely underestimated by the Congress, has eventually led to the downfall of the last bastion of the Indian National Congress in the northeast, paving way for the Zoramthanga-led Mizo National Front (MNF) party to grab power.

Mizoram PCC president Lal Thanhawla had to concede defeat and has tendered his resignation to Governor Kummanam Rajasekharan and MNF president Zoramthanga has staked claims to form the new government.

The ZPM, not even a political party yet but a conglomerate of eight lesser known parties of Mizoram, has bagged eight seats with Lalduhoma, their chief ministerial candidate, bagging two seats including Serchhip where he defeated Lal Thanhawla.

“We underestimated the ZPM, which came as a severe blow to us. Our vote share in the entire state is still very healthy. The Congress will come back in the next Lok Sabha election,” Lal Thanhawla said.

The astonishing success of the ZPM has also surprised political analysts.

“I personally believe that they were a force to be reckoned with, but I did not anticipate these many seats. They not only won eight seats, but also attracted swing voters who have helped the Congress in the past two state elections. This made MNF’s task easier,” J Malsawmzuala, a local political commentator said.

From the 34 seats they won in the 2013 state Assembly elections, the Congress managed to retain just five seats. Only two ministers – Zodintluanga and Ngunlianchunga – from the Congress cabinet could retain their seats.

Political analysts feel that the churches of Mizoram, which had strongly opposed The Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition & Control) Act, 2014 which came into force on January 15, 2015, was one major factor that led to the collapse of the traditional Congress stronghold over Mizoram.

An insider from the Congress said that the churches, which detest the lifting of total liquor ban, have preached against the ills of liquor. “All fingers of the angry churches pointed at us, it was detrimental for our party,” the source said.

Meanwhile Zoramthanga, the newly elected leader of the MNF legislature party, said that his party would have scored more if allegations of a tie-up with the BJP were not spread. “We should have crossed 30 seats but our opponents have levelled charges of an MNF-BJP tie-up which has stopped us from getting more seats,” Zoramthanga said.

The Mizo National Front (MNF), which won just four seats in 2013, came back strongly to win 26 seats, the Congress won five, the ZPM bagged eight seats and BJP opened their account in Mizoram winning the Tuichawng Assembly seat.