Aizawl, Nov 03: While 10 women candidates contested the last Mizoram Assembly polls in 1998, only three women were likely to be in the fray for the coming assembly polls to be held on November 20. No wonder, the Mizoram Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl (MHIP) of the Mizoram Women's Federation president Lalzarliani Hmar strongly criticised political parties for their 'gender biased' attitudes in selecting candidates. Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) fielded two women candidates and the Congress picked its mahila president to represent the party womenfolk but the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) and the opposition Mizoram People's Conference (MPC) did not have any women representation for the coming polls. The Mahila Congress president Zothankimi would contest against Minister of State for Finance and Forest Lalchamliana in the Mizoram-Assam border constituency of Bilkhawthlir and H L Hluna, candidate of the ZNP-MPC combine.

Lalchamliana, a political science lecturer by profession, might be a tough proposition for Zothankimi as the former was declared as a giant killer when he defeated veteran Congress leader and former speaker late Vaivenga in the constituency by a huge margin. However, being a new face and know for her communication skills, she might pose danger for the minister.

Bureau Report