Ready to ally with ZPM if it gets more seats: BJP on Mizoram elections

Ahead of the assembly elections in Mizoram, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said on Thursday that it hopes to form the next government in the northeastern state on its own. Mizoram BJP president (in-charge) Vanupa Zathang stated that the saffron party is ready to ally with the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), which is already part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), or with the main opposition party. Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), whoever gets more seats.

The BJP is contesting 23 seats in the 40-member Mizoram elections. In an interview to news agency PTI, Zathang said the BJP’s campaigns are going well and the people of Mizoram understand the party’s objectives. He stated that the opposition’s “propaganda”, which labels the BJP as an anti-Christian party, has not worked.

Zathang stated that the BJP has already clarified its position on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and Article 371G of the Constitution and has nothing more to say on these issues.

Asked about the BJP’s stand if Mizoram has a hung Assembly, Zathang said, “In such a situation, we will support the MNF if it remains with the NDA. If ZPM gets more seats than MNF, the BJP will have no problem going along. them.” He ruled out a coalition government of all three non-Congress parties BJP, MNF and ZPM.

Earlier today, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticized regional parties such as the Mizo National Front (MNF) and the Zoram’s People Movement (ZPM) for acting as the ‘unofficial agents’ of the BJP. Congress leader Sonia Gandhi had alleged that the MNF and the ZPM claim to act independently but are “gateways for the BJP into Mizoram”.

The term of the Mizoram Legislative Assembly ends on December 17 this year. Mizoram is one of the five states where assembly elections are scheduled for November-December. Assembly elections will be held in Mizoram on November 7 and counting of votes will take place on December 3.