BJP makes inroads in Mizoram vote share

Guwahati: In what may be called a moral booster for saffron party in the Christian state, the BJP has not only opened its account for the first time in Mizoram but also increased its vote share to 8 per cent from 0.37% vote share it had in 2013.

BJP candidate and former minister Buddha Dhan Chakma won from Tuichawng. Chakma had left the Congress to join the BJP in the run up to the polls. The Congress, which was in power, stands decimated, winning only five seats compared to 34 in 2013 when the MNF had got five. Its vote share of 44.63 per cent in 2013 has come down to 30.7 per cent on Tuesday.

Mizoram has voted for regional outfits, with the Mizo National Front (MNF) winning in 26 of the 40 assembly constituencies and the seven-party alliance of Zoram People Movement (ZPM) getting eight seats.

The MNF vote share in the current polls was 38 per cent down marginally from an earlier figure of 39.9per cent.

Though, there have been many issues, the Congress decision to lift the ban on liquor and poor road condition has hit the party dearly.

In Christian-dominated Mizoram, after 17 years of prohibitions, the Congress government in 2014 defied the powerful Presbyterian Church and organisations like the Young Mizo Association (YMA) by diluting the Mizoram Liquor Total Prohibition Act (MLTP), 1995. The first wine shop opened in Aizawl on March 16, 2015. Both the MNF and

ZPM campaigned against the lifting of prohibition and promised to bring back the ban.

It is significant that agriculture minister KS Thanga of the Congress was also defeated by MNF candidate F Lalnunmawia by a margin of 2,037 votes in Aizawl South-III seat.

Former Assembly Speaker Lalchamliana of the MNF defeated the lone woman MLA and cooperation minister Vanlalawmpuii Chawngthu from Hrangturzo seat, while Lalrinawma of the MNF retained the Tuikum seat by defeating Sangzela Tlau of the ruling Congress.