AIZAWL:
The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) “keenness” to forge a post-poll alliance with its arch rival Congress in the Mara Autonomous District Council got a setback after the Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee ruled out post-poll alliance with any party, on May 10.
For the Congress, the choice was between Mizo National Front (MNF) and BJP, its main rivals in the state and the country, respectively, to form a post-poll alliance.
Informing that the party will not form an alliance with either of the two parties, MLA and the Congress Legislature Party leader Zodintluanga said, “The people of Mara district have given their mandate. They wanted us to be in the opposition, and we will remain so. There is no question of forming an alliance with our main enemies in the state and at the Centre.”
Even though MNF and BJP are allies under National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), they are at loggerheads in Mizoram.
And given the hostility the MNF has shown towards its NDA partners in Mizoram, the state BJP was more inclined to tying up with Congress.
“We would be interested in forging an alliance with Congress to form the government in Mara Council. However, final decision is to be taken by the national headquarters,” BJP spokesperson had said on May 9.
In 25-seat Mara Council polls which results were declared on May 9, the saffron party emerged as single largest party with 12 seats, one seat short of majority mark, while Congress was reduced to a single digit count at four. The Mizo National Front (MNF) that rules the state, bagged nine seats.
Meanwhile, the MNF has remained silent about post-poll alliance. MNF vice president Vanlalzawma said that the party has not decided if it will form a coalition with BJP in the council. The term of the present council ends on May 15.
In the last general elections to the MADC held in 2017, the Indian National Congress (INC) won the polls by bagging 16 seats, followed by the MNF which won 6 seats while the Mara Democratic Front (MDF) won 2 seats and an independent candidate was also elected. The MDF merged with the BJP on July 12, 2017 with the founder president of the party joining the MNF later.
The INC-led government at the MADC was facing problems due to an inquiry into the allegations of corruption and maladministration being initiated by the state government which resulted in all the 16 INC members of district council (MDC) joining the BJP and forming the BJP government two years back.
