A Cheat-Sheet On Mizoram Elections

The Diwali season is upon us. So are the five-state elections happening in November.

While there are 'experts' by the dozen on Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana, here is your cheat-sheet for the fifth state—Mizoram.

The land and the people

-       720kms boundary with Bangladesh and Myanmar

-       Population - around 10 lakhs (second lowest populated state)

-       95 per cent of population is tribal. (So 39/40 ST reserved seats)

-       87 per cent Christian; 9 per cent Buddhists; 3 per cent Hindus

-       The 8 per cent Buddhists are Chakma people (very interesting history). They want Chakmaland.

-       one-third live in Aizawl

History (A little bit of)

-       Became a British Colony only in 1895!

-       By the time of Independence most of the population were converted to Christianity.

-       1960s, MNF (then a guerilla organization) fought for Independence from India supported by China and Pakistan. But no popular support. (Sub-story on plague in the bamboo forests that triggered a rebellion!)

-       1966 - The infamous bombing of Aizawl (only time Indian Army has bombed its own territory)

-       Part of Assam till 1972. Mizo Peace Accord at UT status in 1986.

-       Became a state in 1987.

Economy

-       Debt to GDP at 53 per cent. Highest in India. Worse than Punjab (48 per cent).

-       High literacy (90 per cent); Low poverty (5 per cent)

-       Promising horticulture and floriculture industries. Among largest global producer of Anthurium flower. One of the largest Bamboo cultivators in India

-       Infrastructure deficit - Power; hill roads; schools and hospitals  

2023 Assembly Polls

-       November 7; 40 seats

-       2018 results: MNF - 26; ZPM - 8; Cong - 5; BJP - 1. BJP won from Chakma dominated seat.

-       All 40 constituencies won with a margin of less than 2,500 votes.

-       CM Zoramthanga-led MNF is in the lead. It was a part of NDA. It has to be seen if it will clear majority. Close calls.

-       A few days ago, the CM gave a caustic interview to BBC. He twisted the Manipur issue to give it a communal Christian-Hindu colour and distanced his party from the BJP.

-       Congress has new leadership. It is bashing MNF and ZPM as backdoor conduits to power for BJP. It says BJP will remove 371G (special status to MZ) like 370.

-      ZPM under Lalduhoma (ex-Congress; Indira Gandhi’s personal security man) expected to gain. They swept the Lunglei (second largest urban area after Aizawl) Municipal Elections in April. Big deal in small states.

- According to a C-voter survey, the ruling MNF will win around 15 seats, INC 12 seats, ZPM 11 seats.

Major issues

-       Immigration. No not from Manipur. From Myanmar, since 2021 coup. Around 40,000 people have come into Mizoram. Mostly Kukis; ethnically related to tribes in Mizoram. CM refused to implement MHA order of biometric scanning.

-       Serious narcotics terrorism. Punjab and Rajasthan borders gets media coverage and web-series made. Mizoram suffers.

-       Manipur issue - 12,000 refugees. No big differentiator between three main parties. "Humanitarian, not political". All of them have criticized BJP's handling of the crisis.

-       Health - HIV AIDS prevalence 10 times the national average due to drug use; 2022 African Swine Fever; Poor healthcare - 7 doctors for 1 lakh population (Tamil Nadu has 400)     

Main Promises

-       MNF - Aim to create a larger administrative region for all Zo-Kuki people (Zofate Jerusalem).

-       Congress - Preserve Mizo way of life; health insurance; focus on horticulture.

-       BJP - 33 per cent reservation for women; Mizo sports academy; Increase in health insurance coverage; drug-free Mizoram; colleges upgrade.