Mizoram CM said – I will not share the stage with PM; Meitei people burnt churches in Manipur, we cannot support BJP
Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga said that he will not share the stage with PM Modi when he comes here to campaign for the upcoming assembly elections.
He said that it would be better if the Prime Minister comes here alone and presents his views alone on the stage. After this I will come on the stage separately.
According to news agency PTI, Zoramthanga said that the people of Mizoram are Christians. When Meitei people in Manipur burnt hundreds of churches, all the people of Mizoram protested.
Sympathizing with BJP at this time will be a big minus point for my party.
Assembly elections are to be held in Mizoram on 7 November, the results of which will come on 3 December.
Before the elections, on October 30, PM Modi may come to Mamit village in West Mizoram to hold a rally in support of BJP candidates.
Zoramthanga’s party joins NDA, separates in Mizoram
Zoramthanga’s party Mizo National Front (MNF) is a member of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) and the ruling NDA at the Centre. However, MNF is different from BJP in Mizoram. CM Zoramthanga said- His party joined NDA and NEDA because it is strongly against Congress. We do not want to be part of any Congress led alliance.
We are not giving arms, just shelter to the people of Myanmar
On the question of giving shelter to the people of Myanmar, Bangladesh and Manipur, Zoramthanga said that the Manipur government is following the steps of the Central Government. He said that the Indian government had given shelter to the refugees of the then former Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and also handed over weapons to them, so that the freedom struggle could be won.
We do not give weapons to Myanmar refugees. We just provide them food and shelter as a matter of humanity. Zoramthanga said it is the responsibility of the Center to restore peace in Manipur so that people can go back to their homes.
Defeat possible if Church’s ‘election rules’ are not followed in Mizoram
Voting is on November 7 in Mizoram, but there is neither electoral glamor nor noise in the capital Aizawl with a population of 4 lakh. The offices of the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) and the main opposition Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) are also standing deserted without banners and posters. This is because of the election guidelines of Mizoram People’s Forum (MPF). It is important for every party and candidate to accept this. No one can take this lightly. There are three reasons for this…
- Mizoram’s 11 districts have 87% Christian population. Therefore, here the Church has more influence and pressure on the voters and society than the Election Commission. Formed in 2006, the MPF is an independent body created by the Mizoram Presbyterian Church Synod, the largest Christian denomination in the northeast.
- This includes church elders, women, senior citizens and youth. The responsibility of conducting free and fair elections lies more with the MPF than the Commission, that is why this organization decides the rules of election campaign. Recently MPF has also signed a written agreement with major parties regarding this.
- It has been decided that no party will put up banners, posters or even party flags. After the announcement of elections, candidates will not go for door-to-door campaigning. There will be control on election expenses. Candidates will make only those promises in the manifesto which can actually be fulfilled. There will be no rallies in cities. If the public has any question in their mind then the candidates will be called on a stage after being informed about the time, where they will face the questions.
Chief Minister Zoramthanga also signed the MPF agreement
Due to strict guidelines, the people of Mizoram are still unaware of muscle power, unfair means and electoral malpractices. The strength of MPF can be gauged from the fact that the agreement has also been signed by Chief Minister Zoramthanga.
ZPM leader and candidate TBC Lalvenchunga says that after the announcement of elections, we cannot go door to door, hence we had declared our candidates in April itself. Reached every voter’s home within three months. The guidelines are strict, so most of the candidates are camping in villages these days, although small meetings are allowed there. Whereas in cities it is strictly prohibited.
MPF has its own volunteers, they keep an eye on every house
M. Bavitlung, who has been doing journalism in the state for a long time, says that the Christian population here is directly connected to the MPF. It also includes all the churches including Presbyterian, Baptist and powerful social organizations like Young Mizo Association, hence no party can break the rules of MPF.
MPF workers keep a close watch on voters, parties and candidates in every area. If there is any violation of the agreement, MPF gets informed. Recently, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had held a rally in Aizawl.
It is prohibited in cities, so MPF asked the state Congress why the agreement was broken? The MPF does not have the power to take action, but parties who break the rules are at increased risk of defeat.
