- News>
Mizoram Elections 2003 - Poll Issues
Almost all parties in Mizoram are yet to finalise their public manifestoes. A common approach among the electoral agendas of the parties, revolve around the promise of `good governance`, variations of which border on the vague
Almost all parties in Mizoram are yet to finalise their public manifestoes. A common approach among the electoral agendas of the parties, revolve around the promise of ‘good governance’, variations of which border on the vague
MNF, the party in power enjoys a clear majority of 22 MLAs in the 40-member Assembly. A lot of their emphasis in recent months has been on their achievements in the past five years. An unquestionable advantage has been their alliance with the NDA, which has worked in their favour in regard to speedy financing by the Centre for several projects in the state. Prominent among these are the revival of the Bairabi Hydro-Electric project, schemes sponsored by the World Bank and boosting self-employment sector with job opportunities.
On the flipside, MNF is faced with growing dissatisfaction of the salaried class and the anti-incumbency factor that will work against them.
MPC, Mizoram People’s Conference has adopted an all-out approach to woo the rural sector. In particular, the Jhum farmers which comprise a majority in the state electorate, encompassing 29 of the 40 constituencies, may prove decisive. The party is banking on their strength in this aspect to counter the threat of its main adversaries, MNF and the Congress.
The educated unemployed class in the state is being tapped with the party’s primary election promise of bettering employment opportunities.
A key factor in MPC’s prospects may involve a potential tie-up with the regional party, Zoram National Party (ZNP). A common interest in keeping regional votes intact is likely to bring the two together. The merger would also provide MPC with the extra advantage of ZNP’s ongoing exercise of identifying strongholds, nominee selection and charting out of a common manifesto.
Historically, the party boasts of two victories in the Assembly polls in 1978 and 1979. In the 1998 polls, the party succeeded in capturing 12 seats.
The latest entrant to Mizoram politics, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has also evoked public curiosity as the strength of the party’s support base in the State remains a matter of speculation without any proven track record.
Bureau Report
MNF, the party in power enjoys a clear majority of 22 MLAs in the 40-member Assembly. A lot of their emphasis in recent months has been on their achievements in the past five years. An unquestionable advantage has been their alliance with the NDA, which has worked in their favour in regard to speedy financing by the Centre for several projects in the state. Prominent among these are the revival of the Bairabi Hydro-Electric project, schemes sponsored by the World Bank and boosting self-employment sector with job opportunities.
On the flipside, MNF is faced with growing dissatisfaction of the salaried class and the anti-incumbency factor that will work against them.
MPC, Mizoram People’s Conference has adopted an all-out approach to woo the rural sector. In particular, the Jhum farmers which comprise a majority in the state electorate, encompassing 29 of the 40 constituencies, may prove decisive. The party is banking on their strength in this aspect to counter the threat of its main adversaries, MNF and the Congress.
The educated unemployed class in the state is being tapped with the party’s primary election promise of bettering employment opportunities.
A key factor in MPC’s prospects may involve a potential tie-up with the regional party, Zoram National Party (ZNP). A common interest in keeping regional votes intact is likely to bring the two together. The merger would also provide MPC with the extra advantage of ZNP’s ongoing exercise of identifying strongholds, nominee selection and charting out of a common manifesto.
Historically, the party boasts of two victories in the Assembly polls in 1978 and 1979. In the 1998 polls, the party succeeded in capturing 12 seats.
The latest entrant to Mizoram politics, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has also evoked public curiosity as the strength of the party’s support base in the State remains a matter of speculation without any proven track record.
Bureau Report