Elected members of BJP and Congress formed a rare alliance to fight against opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) in Mizoram in a local election held on Wednesday, April 26.
No party had a majority in this month’s elections to the Chakma Autonomous District Council that was set up in 1972 to let the Buddhist tribal community govern themselves. The alignment comes in the wake of a startling move by local Congress leaders who have vowed to drive out the opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) from power.
In the early months of 2018, BJP won by massive vote share in Left-ruled Tripura which served as a major blow to chief minister Manik Sarkar. Mizoram is the last of the northeastern states where the Opposition party, Congress is still in power. The ruling Congress had ended up with just six seats in the 20-member council and the BJP had five. The MNF, a constituent of BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance, was the largest party in the council, with eight seats.
State Sports Minister and Congress leader Zodintluanga said the post-poll alliance was forged after local leaders of both the parties reached an agreement. But the friendship, he underlined, would not have any bearing in Delhi or in the coming state assembly election.
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