Aizawl: Bowing to pressure, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has withdrawn one of its four women nominees, Judy Zohmingliani, to contest the upcoming Mizoram Assembly elections.
The withdrawal of Zohmingliani from the electoral battle from Tuivawl assembly constituency followed after Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), the powerful students’ body in Mizoram, had asked all political parties not to field any woman who married to a non-tribal.
The students’ body had said that it would ensure that such a candidate is not elected in the November 7 assembly polls.
BJP state president, Vanlalhmuaka said that the party cancelled its decision to nominate, Judy Zohmingliani as the candidate due to her marriage to an Anglo-Indian.
“The BJP affirms its support to the MZP’s efforts to protect the identity, culture and religion of the Mizo people,” Vanlalhmuaka said.
However, the opposition Congress stuck with its decision to nominate Meriam L. Hrangchal, who is married to a Gurkha, as the party’s candidate from Lunglei South assembly constituency.
Hrangchal filed her nomination papers in Lunglei on Thursday.
“She (Hrangchal) is an asset for Mizoram, and an eligible and qualified candidate of the Congress party,” Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president, Lalsawta said.
On the other hand, the MZP held a protest rally in Mizoram’s capital Aizawl to protest against the state Congress’ decision to field Hrangchal and demanded that her candidacy be withdrawn.
The MZP said, Hrangchal, is married to Dipen Zoliana, son of Niraj Singh, a non-Mizo and Kawlhmingliani.
The MZP has been campaigning against Mizo women marrying with men from outside the community, especially non-tribals. It had also administered pledges to hundreds of students
across Mizoram not to marry outside the Mizo tribe.
In 2018, the Young Mizo Association (YMA), a non-political and voluntary organisation in Mizoram, had also demanded the enactment of a legislation to ensure that a Mizo woman who marries a non-Mizo would lose her scheduled tribe status.
According to the Mizo customary law, a Mizo woman who marries a non-Mizo man loses her Mizo tribal rights.
