ZPM storms into power in Mizoram, breaks the state's binary model

Guwahati: The Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) — a relatively new regional party — stormed to power in Mizoram on Monday by winning 27 out of the 40 Assembly seats, breaking the binary model of politics involving the Mizo National Front (MNF) and the Congress ever since the sate was formed in 1987.

The MNF, which was eyeing a second straight term, bagged only 10 seats while the Congress faced its worst debacle in the northeastern state, once its stronghold, as it managed to win only one seat.

The BJP improved its tally from one in 2018 to two this time while three women candidates (two from ZPM, one from MNF) were elected to the Assembly. The present Assembly does not have a woman legislator.

More shock was in store for the MNF as Chief Minister and party president Zoramthanga and his deputy Tawnluia lost the elections to their ZPM rivals.

Led by former IPS officer Lalduhoma, ZPM had promised a “new system” and a corruption-free government. Lalduhoma is likely to meet governor on Tuesday and stake claim to form first non-MNF, non-Congress government in Mizoram.

“It’s sheer anti-incumbency. The voters wanted to give a chance to a new party and the ZPM’s promise attracted them,” Jangkhongam Doungel, a professor of political science at Mizoram University, told DH.

“The fight this time was between MNF and ZPM as Congress was already struggling within. So the voters elected a new party,” he said.

The ZPM was formed ahead of the 2018 elections. Its candidates had won eight seats when MNF stormed back to power and Congress was reduced to third spot with just five seats. MNF had won 26 seats and bounced back to power after 10 years.

Although Zoramthanga was banking on Mizo nationalism to fight anti-incumbency, it did not work in favour of MNF. Zoramthanga claimed that its stand in favour of displaced Chin-Kuki-Zo people from neighbouring Myanmar, Bangladesh and Manipur would help the party in the elections.

After the results, Zoramthanga met Governor Lal Babu Kambhampati and tendered his resignation.