Mizoram Headed For A Hung Assembly: Peoples Pulse 

Mizoram is headed for a hung Assembly in the 2018 elections. The Congress is set to get 14-19 seats in the 40 Member Legislative Assembly. The MNF would get 15-19 seats, the Zoram Peoples Movement would get 2-4 seats and the BJP would get 0-2 seats.

This is the outcome of a survey conducted by Hyderabad based political research organization, Peoples Pulse, between November 15-18, 2018. The survey employed both qualitative and quantitative aspects of the people’s disposition towards the 2018 elections.

Mizoram has a history of ten years electoral cycle since statehood barring first two years. By that logic, Congress is supposed to be dislodged by a new dispensation. However, this election is bit different from earlier ones. Mizoram has never experienced hung Assembly in the seven elections since statehood with Congress and MNF alternating power, but the presence of ZPM and BJP in the fray might leave its impact. The joining of the Home Minister and important leader R. Lalzirliana along with four other MLAs into MNF has weakened the Congress, which continues to be hit by internal infighting.

The BJP began seriously by fighting in 39 constituencies and by fielding in its campaign Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah. The party banks on the minority votes primarily, but projects on the ideals of genuine secularism to rebut the accusations that it is an Hindutwa party in a Christian majority state.

The other factor this time is the conglomeration of two parties - Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) to fight against both the Congress and MNF. This conglomeration’s nominees have contested 35 constituencies as Independents but on the common election symbol of Hat. The two main constituents have their old followers and the group may emerge as third largest player after poll result. It has one sitting MLA at present.

The Church, which played a major role in enforcing prohibition in the state through legislation in 1995 is upset with its partial lifting in 2014 by the same Congress party. MNF and ZPM have vowed to bring back total prohibition if they come to power whereas the BJP favours license only for the production of local liquor

If Congress emerges as the single largest party but short of majority, it will have limited option for coalition compared to MNF. The smaller parties may feel more comfortable to ally with the regional party. If the BJP manages to get two or three seats, they will try its best to keep Congress out of power and make the northeast Congress-free as they always claim they would. But its failure elsewhere in four other state elections will not be compensated arithmetically and politically

Also Read: Congress A Serious Claimant To Power In Chhattisgarh: Peoples Pulse