Prasanta Mazumdar
Mizoram will go to the polls on December 2 amidst speculation about a triangular contest and a hung assembly. The Mizo National Front (MNF), which grabbed power in 1998 and 2003, however, faces an uphill task this year round owing to a strong anti-incumbency wave. In the 2003 elections, the party bagged 21 of the total 40 seats.
The main opposition Congress and other smaller parties won 12 and seven seats respectively.
Amidst speculation of a hung assembly, power contenders MNF and Congress are going all-out to forge electoral alliances with the smaller parties. The MNF has announced that it will continue its ties with the Mizoram Congress Party (MCP) and forge an alliance with Mara Democratic Front (MDF) and Hmar People’s Convention (HPC) in its bid to retain power for the third consecutive term.
Similarly, the Congress, led by former chief minister Lal Thanhawla, has decided to go it with Mipui Tangrual Pawl (MTP) or People’s Front.
The party has also included a splinter group of the MCP in its fold.
Coalition politics is not new here.
Following the attainment of fullfledged statehood in 1987, the first government in Mizoram was formed in 1987 by the MNF after its merger with the Mizo Convention and Mizo Peace Forum. The second government in 1993 was also a coalition one formed by the Congress by forging a tie-up with the Mizoram Janata Dal.
Meanwhile, no matter what their prospects are, the BJP, is still trying to find a base in Mizoram, and Lok Janshakti Party, relatively new in the state, has announced it will be in the poll fray.
The triangular contest is expected among MNF, Congress and new coalition United Democratic Alliance (UDA), which was formed with the merger of the Mizoram People’s Conference (MPC), Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNF) and Zoram Kuthnathawktu Pawl (ZKP).
Political analysts believe the decision of the Congress to forge an alliance with the Mipui Tangrual Pawl (MTP) and include the breakaway group of the MCP in its fold could brighten its prospects in the polls.
The Congress has constituted a campaign committee that includes members from the Northeast.
With insurgency becoming a thing of the past and local issues holding sway, the MNF is expected to highlight the development work undertaken during its rule even as the Congress is girding up its loins to corner the MNF on charges of corruption within the government.
For the smaller parties, development and eviction of Bangladeshi Chakma refugees could be their poll planks.
As in Nagaland, the Church in Mizoram plays an important role in elections but the powerful Mizoram People’s Forum (MPF), a conglomerate of prominent churches and other organisations, so far has not expressed its support for any parties.
The MPF has already served “dos and don’ts” on all political parties over campaigning and selection of candidates. The dominant Presbyterian church has urged parties to field “clean” candidates.
The state has 6,11,124 voters — 3,08,884 are women and 302,240 men.
In 2003, seven women contested the polls but all of them lost. Despite this experience, all major political parties have decided to set up women candidates this year.
BJP risks resentment in Raipur
Bijay Chaki
RAIPUR (CHHATTISGARH): The issues before the two main players, the BJP and Congress, are many.
Highlighting the development of the state achieved during the Raman Singh-led government, the BJP has not stopped from populism by announcing schemes like rice at Re. one per kilogramme to all Antyodaya ration cardholders besides providing rice at Rs.
two per kilogramme and free salt to all the 32 lakh below the poverty line (BPL) families. It is also trying to endear itself to farmers by announcing loans without interest, and free electricity to pumps upto five HP capacity.
The party is trying to take advantage of infighting in the Congress. While the BJP is projecting Raman Singh as its chief ministerial candidate, Congress is fighting the polls without projecting any leader as usual.
The entry of former chief minister Ajit Jogi has given Congress infighting a new dimension.
However, the BJP is not entirely free from infighting as food minister Brij Mohan Agrawal is said to be nurturing chief ministerial ambitions.
Denying ticket to as many as 22 sitting BJP MLAs has given rise to resentment among a section, and the party has taken the risk of sabotage by the disgruntled lot. Corruption is one of the major talking points of Congress which is highlighting how the assets of some ministers have increased manifold.
The BJP has countered this by maintaining that there is no specific corruption charge against any minister.
The Congress has pinned its hope on anti-incumbency by alleging that the Raman Singh government has nothing for the general people.
Source: http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=MNF+faces+an+uphill+task+this+time&artid=esUj/NK0/Ls=&SectionID=XVSZ2Fy6Gzo=&MainSectionID=XVSZ2Fy6Gzo=&SectionName=m3GntEw72ik=
Mizoram will go to the polls on December 2 amidst speculation about a triangular contest and a hung assembly. The Mizo National Front (MNF), which grabbed power in 1998 and 2003, however, faces an uphill task this year round owing to a strong anti-incumbency wave. In the 2003 elections, the party bagged 21 of the total 40 seats.
The main opposition Congress and other smaller parties won 12 and seven seats respectively.
Amidst speculation of a hung assembly, power contenders MNF and Congress are going all-out to forge electoral alliances with the smaller parties. The MNF has announced that it will continue its ties with the Mizoram Congress Party (MCP) and forge an alliance with Mara Democratic Front (MDF) and Hmar People’s Convention (HPC) in its bid to retain power for the third consecutive term.
Similarly, the Congress, led by former chief minister Lal Thanhawla, has decided to go it with Mipui Tangrual Pawl (MTP) or People’s Front.
The party has also included a splinter group of the MCP in its fold.
Coalition politics is not new here.
Following the attainment of fullfledged statehood in 1987, the first government in Mizoram was formed in 1987 by the MNF after its merger with the Mizo Convention and Mizo Peace Forum. The second government in 1993 was also a coalition one formed by the Congress by forging a tie-up with the Mizoram Janata Dal.
Meanwhile, no matter what their prospects are, the BJP, is still trying to find a base in Mizoram, and Lok Janshakti Party, relatively new in the state, has announced it will be in the poll fray.
The triangular contest is expected among MNF, Congress and new coalition United Democratic Alliance (UDA), which was formed with the merger of the Mizoram People’s Conference (MPC), Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNF) and Zoram Kuthnathawktu Pawl (ZKP).
Political analysts believe the decision of the Congress to forge an alliance with the Mipui Tangrual Pawl (MTP) and include the breakaway group of the MCP in its fold could brighten its prospects in the polls.
The Congress has constituted a campaign committee that includes members from the Northeast.
With insurgency becoming a thing of the past and local issues holding sway, the MNF is expected to highlight the development work undertaken during its rule even as the Congress is girding up its loins to corner the MNF on charges of corruption within the government.
For the smaller parties, development and eviction of Bangladeshi Chakma refugees could be their poll planks.
As in Nagaland, the Church in Mizoram plays an important role in elections but the powerful Mizoram People’s Forum (MPF), a conglomerate of prominent churches and other organisations, so far has not expressed its support for any parties.
The MPF has already served “dos and don’ts” on all political parties over campaigning and selection of candidates. The dominant Presbyterian church has urged parties to field “clean” candidates.
The state has 6,11,124 voters — 3,08,884 are women and 302,240 men.
In 2003, seven women contested the polls but all of them lost. Despite this experience, all major political parties have decided to set up women candidates this year.
BJP risks resentment in Raipur
Bijay Chaki
RAIPUR (CHHATTISGARH): The issues before the two main players, the BJP and Congress, are many.
Highlighting the development of the state achieved during the Raman Singh-led government, the BJP has not stopped from populism by announcing schemes like rice at Re. one per kilogramme to all Antyodaya ration cardholders besides providing rice at Rs.
two per kilogramme and free salt to all the 32 lakh below the poverty line (BPL) families. It is also trying to endear itself to farmers by announcing loans without interest, and free electricity to pumps upto five HP capacity.
The party is trying to take advantage of infighting in the Congress. While the BJP is projecting Raman Singh as its chief ministerial candidate, Congress is fighting the polls without projecting any leader as usual.
The entry of former chief minister Ajit Jogi has given Congress infighting a new dimension.
However, the BJP is not entirely free from infighting as food minister Brij Mohan Agrawal is said to be nurturing chief ministerial ambitions.
Denying ticket to as many as 22 sitting BJP MLAs has given rise to resentment among a section, and the party has taken the risk of sabotage by the disgruntled lot. Corruption is one of the major talking points of Congress which is highlighting how the assets of some ministers have increased manifold.
The BJP has countered this by maintaining that there is no specific corruption charge against any minister.
The Congress has pinned its hope on anti-incumbency by alleging that the Raman Singh government has nothing for the general people.
Source: http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=MNF+faces+an+uphill+task+this+time&artid=esUj/NK0/Ls=&SectionID=XVSZ2Fy6Gzo=&MainSectionID=XVSZ2Fy6Gzo=&SectionName=m3GntEw72ik=
No comments:
Post a Comment