Mizoram elections: BJP promises Rs 1/kg rice

Guwahati: The BJP on Tuesday released the vision documents of the party for the November 28 Mizoram Assembly elections and promised rice at Rs 1 per kg, a football field in all eight-district headquarters and inclusion of Mizo language into 8th Schedule of Constitution if voted to power.

Releasing the vision document of the party at the state unit office in Aizawl, BJP’s national general secretary Ram Madhav reiterated the commitment of his party to uplift the last man in the state.

In an obvious bid to open its account in the Christian majority state, Mr Madhav said, “Our manifesto talks about all round developments in all sectors. We promise to build three engineering colleges and three medical colleges. We will give 10,000 new jobs each year for the next five years if we come to power.”

Though, BJP has been fielding candidates since last five consecutive elections but failed to open its account in the state that has 87 per cent Christian population. The party, which is in power or is part of the ruling coalition in six Northeastern states, has fielded 39 candidates for the 40 assembly seats this time.

The BJP also promised to improve the dilapidated road network of the state with well-maintained roads within six months and also a four-lane highway connecting Myanmar and Bangladesh, the two countries bordering the state, passing through Aizawl.

The ruling Congress which took lead in releasing its manifesto much in advance has promised to provide free laptops to students who have cleared Class 10 and above if it returns to power in the state.

Chief minister Lal Thanhawla, who released the manifesto of the party also pledged to continue with its two flagship programmes for farmers and youths.

Mizoram is the only state in the northeast where the Congress has a government and BJP leaders have asserted they would make concerted efforts to oust the opposition party from the eight northeastern states.

The Congress manifesto also promised housing for the poor in rural areas and residential quarters for employees of police and education departments. It also promised to set up more rehabilitation centres for drug addicts and alcoholics across the state.