BJP and Cong fight for influence in the state of Mizoram, which is inhabited by Christians

The Congress and the BJP, two powerful political organizations, are engaged in a bloody struggle to make an impression in the mostly Christian state of Mizoram, an area that has traditionally been controlled by regional groups.

In the midst of the Congress’s struggles to reclaim its relevance after being out of power for more than ten years, the saffron party has put up candidates for 23 assembly seats in the state.

In contrast, the Mizo National Front (MNF), which has ruled for the last ten years, is making an effort to make up ground on the fronts of regionalism and Mizo unity by publicly attacking the BJP, its partner, and fighting anti-incumbency feelings.

The arrival of the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), which has 40 candidates nominated for the state elections, has complicated the electoral scene. The state election now seems to be a three-way race with ZPM naming its candidates for every seat and its leader, Lalduhoma, running from the Serchip district, where he previously won a by-election.

Both the Congress and the MNF ran for all 40 seats in the 2018 elections; the Congress won five seats while the MNF received 28. In contrast, ZPM candidates who ran as independents won six seats, while the BJP only managed to win one seat out of 39 seats.

Since the Mizoram was created as a state in 1987 after years of conflict, the Mizo National Front and the Congress have alternated in power.

Political observers predict that the Zoram People’s Movement will be a major factor in the next elections, although the MNF, headed by Zoramthanga, seems to have a tiny edge in this election. Prior to uniting into a single organization, ZPM was an alliance of six parties. It has since grown in significance in politics, especially in metropolitan regions, and it hopes to have a significant impact across the state.

With about 87% of its citizens practicing Christianity, Mizoram has a mostly Christian populace. The Mizos have a religious link to the Kuki-Zo tribes of Manipur, who are at odds with the Meiteis, in addition to their shared ethnic ties. The BJP’s already slim popularity in Mizoram has been further squeezed by recent accusations of violence against churches in Manipur. The BJP may become more popular among minority groups, but many Mizos believe that the party is anti-Christian.

Tensions between the two partners have notably increased as a result of MNF chairman Zoramthanga’s public rejection of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s request to share a platform during his campaign in the hill state.

Except for the winner in Tuichawng and the runners-up in West Tuipui and Palak, the rest of the 39 BJP candidates placed third, fourth, or fifth in the last assembly elections. The party has reduced the number of candidates this time to 23, emphasizing locations with sizable ethnic populations.

Additionally, the party intends to take advantage of the long-standing anti-incumbency attitude that results from the state’s bipolar Congress-MNF political fight, which has been defined by one party’s ten-year reign followed by the other for decades.

In order to offset the MNF’s “regional alternative,” the BJP plans to present itself as the “national alternative” throughout its term in office. However, in a state where Christians predominate, concerns have been raised about the BJP’s national image in relation to its promotion of Hindutva ideology. The BJP is attempting to allay these worries by highlighting its dedication to central government initiatives in an attempt to erase doubts about the party.

Election day in Mizoram is November 7, and results will be declared on December 3.