AIZAWL:
In an unexpected move, the four members of district council (MDCs) of the Congress have decided to join hands with the Mizo National Front (MNF) to form the executive body in the Mara Autonomous District Council (MADC), on May 17.
The decision comes against the directive of the Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) stating that it would not be forging a post-poll alliance with either the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or MNF.
MPCC president Lalsawta, who is currently in Delhi, issued a statement on May 17 saying that a show cause notice would be issued to the Mara District Congress Committee (MDCC) and the four MDCs for disobeying the decision of the MPCC’s Political Action Committee (PAC).
Lalsawta said that the state PCC has taken a serious view of the decision of the MDCC and the MDCs, and action would be taken after the latter respond to the show cause notice.
Sources from Siaha, the seat of MADC, said that the joint legislature party of the Congress and MNF has already signed an agreement to form the next government and the approval of the state governor has been sought.
According to the seat-sharing formula that is reported to have been worked out on Monday night, H Malvina of the Congress would be the chief executive member (CEM) while HC Lalmalsawma Zasai of the MNF would be the deputy CEM and N Viakhu (MNF) would be chairman of the council.
The remaining three Congress members would get executive member (EM) berths, while the MNF MDCs would get five EM posts, deputy chairman, deputy chairman of the planning committee, chairman of the town committee and other posts including the chief whip.
Officials in the Raj Bhavan said that Governor Haribabu Kambhampati is now out of station but would still be able to approve or disapprove the proposed formation of the government in MADC.
Hectic parleys had been held between all the three political parties – the BJP, the Congress and the MNF – to form the next government in the MADC after no political party could muster a majority in the election to the 24-member council on May 5.
The BJP, which emerged as the largest single party after securing 12 seats, could not manage to form the government as it was one seat short of a majority. The MNF had bagged nine seats, while the Congress had won four seats.
A plethora of negotiations between the three political parties continued causing political uncertainty in the autonomous council till May 16.
MADC officials said election for chairman of the MADC would be held on May 18 for which MNF member N Viakhu has submitted his nominations, while the opposition BJP is most likely to nominate former CEM N Zakhai for the post.