Electoral politics in Mizoram since the District Council era has been bipartisan characterized by the fight for political power between two dominant parties. During the Mizo District Council era from 1952 to 1970, the contest was first between the Mizo Union and the United Mizo Freedom Organization (UMFO), the first two political parties of Mizoram.
But after the decline of UMFO, the fight was between the Mizo Union and the Indian National Congress (INC). Another regional party, the Mizo National Front (MNF) was founded in 1961 after the Mautam Famine but the party went underground after fighting for an independent Mizoram in 1966.
The duel of the Mizo Union and the INC continued during the Union Territory era but the prolonged disturbed condition of Mizoram weakened the Mizo Union causing the merger of the first political party of Mizoram into the INC. The foundation of the People’s Conference (PC) in the mid 1970’s transformed the bipartisan politics into the fight between the INC and the PC party until peace and normalcy was restored in Mizoram.
With the upgradation of Mizoram into full-fledged state in 1987, the struggle for political power transforms into the fight between the INC and the MNF. Out of the eight terms of the State Legislative Assembly in Mizoram, the MNF formed government four times including the ongoing term and the INC formed government four times.
No other parties except MNF and INC can form government after statehood. Due to the weakening of the INC both at the centre and the states, the political atmosphere in Mizoram too changes a little with the emergence of Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) as the main opposition party surpassing the INC in the eighth State Legislative Assembly elections of 2018.
There were existence of different political parties in the electoral system of Mizoram even in the past but the struggle for power was always between two dominant parties.
The three main political parties in the electoral scene of the coming election are likely to be the MNF, the INC and the ZPM, however, it is doubtful whether the INC be in the position to retain its vote bank and to revive the party. If the INC cannot revive its popularity and cannot retain its vote bank, the main fight for political power seems to be between the MNF and the ZPM.
The polling for ninth election of the Mizoram State Legislative Assembly is not yet notified by the Election Commission of India (ECI). Election notification is expected to be issued in the first part of October, 2023 by the Election Commission of India.
National parties, such as, the INC and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) begin electioneering activities for the coming State Legislative Assembly election and electioneering activities of other national parties for the coming election is not yet heard up till now. Regional parties which already begin electioneering activities and which will participate in the electoral fray are the MNF, the ZPM, the PC, the Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) and Zoramthar.
The Meghalaya-based national party, the National People’s Party (NPP) led by Conrad Sangma is also expected to participate in the electoral fray but its electioneering activity is not yet known.
MNF is the only party which is recognized by the ECI at present among the regional parties of Mizoram and other parties are only registered parties. ZPM has now seven MLAs in the Mizoram Legislative Assembly election and it is also the second largest party in the Aizawl Municipal Corporation (AMC).
The ZPM also forms government at the Lunglei Municipal Council (LMC) securing all the 11 seats in the newly created urban local body. On the other hand, the Mizoram People’s Front (MPF), an election watch-dog organization formed by different denominational churches and civil societies, already spearheaded the process and activities for conducting free and fair election by signing a memorandum of understanding with political parties.
The Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) has been formed on August 15, 2017 by six different political parties and political groupings, namely, Mizoram People Conference (MPC), Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP), Zoram Exodus Movement (ZEM), Zoram Reformation Front (ZRF), Zoram Democratic Front (ZDF) and Mizoram Peoples Party (MPP).
Zoram Peoples’ Movement (ZPM) has now been registered as a regional party by the Election Commission of India (ECI) under Section 29A of the Representation of People Act, 1951 on 3rd July, 2019.
However, majority of the MPC members led by party President, Lalhmangaiha Sailo who were not in favour of merger to the ZPM retain the party. Newly formed regional party, namely, Peoples Representation for Identity and Status of Mizoram (PRISM) merged with MPC in on 6th October, 2020 and the name of the party is changed again to People Conference (PC) in 2020.
Like the MPC, a small group of members within the ZNP were also rebellious in the merger with ZPM and they also retain the name of ZNP.
However, both PC and ZNP formed Mizoram Secular Alliance (MSA) under the leadership of the Indian National Congress (INC) on 18th August, 2023 as a pre-poll alliance.
In fact, it is the first pre-poll alliance formed for the coming ninth Mizoram Legislative Assembly election 2023 but many political watchers doubt the success of this pre-poll alliance.
All regional parties of Mizoram other than the ruling MNF are registered parties or non-registered parties and none of them except ZPM could win even a single seat in the previous State Legislative Assembly election of 2018.
The INC had won two elections in 2008 and 2013 by offering the New Land Use Policy (NLUP). The MNF defeated the Congress in 2018 with its policy of New Economic Development Programme (NEDP).
The INC undergoes changes in its leadership with Lal Thanhawla stepping down as party president and former finance minister Lalsawta replacing him. The party advocates to benefit in the joining of LalnunmawiaChuango, outgoing Chief Secretary of Mizoram to the party but it is doubtful whether the former bureaucrat will have the magic to revive the party.
It appears that the time is not yet ripe for the INC to retain its popularity and vote bank of the past. The MNF, a dominant ruling party is confident of retaining power despite certain constraints in fund due to covid 19 and it is now focusing on its Socio-Economic Development Policy (SEDP).
The ZPM is also confident of capturing power in the state after it won all the 11 seats in the elections to the newly created Lunglei Municipal Council in March, 2023.
It is evident that ZPM seems to be the only party which can compete with the MNF for power in the coming ninth State Legislative Assembly elections in the end of the year.
Therefore, the main struggle for political powers seems to be between the MNF and the ZPM. AamAdmi Party (AAP) unit has also been already formed in Mizoram and it is expected to participate in the electoral fray of the coming election but is unlikely to create the same magical power which it created in Delhi and Punjab.
The BJP also seemed to be highly recharged as union ministers repeatedly visit the state from time to time. Yet, BJP manifestoes and Hindutva agenda do not get followers in Mizoram.
Over and above that, the performance of BJP government in the ethnic clash of Manipur is likely to have some impacts among the electorates in Mizoram who have close ties with their ethnic kins in Manipur.
The electoral battle for the Ninth State Legislative Assembly election may clearly appear after issue of election notification by the ECI and announcement of candidates officially by all political parties.
The common political slogan and common standpoint of all political parties in Mizoram whether they are national or regional parties is to work for Zo Unification.
As a matter of fact, all political parties are in one voice with regard to rehabilitation of Zo ethnic tribes displaced people from Burma, Bangladesh and Manipur due to various political problems in their respective territory and they also provide all the necessary helps which are required by their ethnic tribes across the national and international boundaries.
The main electoral battle for the coming election seems to be witnessed between the MNF and the ZPM but if either of the two dominant parties fail to get single majority, hung assembly seems to be the likely outcome.
The positive aspects of elections in Mizoram are that violence, rigging and proxy voting are unknown and the forthcoming election is also expected to be conducted peacefully like the past elections.
The MPF, as an election watch-dog body will also be constructively contributing again for conduct of free and fair poll for the coming ninth State Legislative Assembly elections of 2023.
Prof. Jangkhongam Doungel is with the Department of Political Science, Mizoram University, Aizawl
