ZODIN SANGA
AIZAWL, Sept 30: It was a tearful
moment for Congress legislator Lalrinliana
Sailo as he made his farewell tour to
Tuichang constituency during the last two
days, after he decided to call it quits.
Sailo’s discontent with the Congress
leadership culminated into his decision
to leave the party which he made it
crystal clear on Saturday during his tour
to his native village Khawhai, the second
biggest village in his constituency that
he has been representing for three
consecutive terms.
The Health Minister in the previous
Congress government threw in the
towel as he sensed the wind was
blowing in favour of opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) candidate
Tawnluia in his constituency who he
felt “holds the trump card” with the
MNF promising to implement Khawzawl
district.
Khawzawl is the largest town in
Tuichang constituency. The subdivisional
town was upgraded to a district headquarters
by the then MNF Government
in the late 2008, a few months before the
State Assembly polls, along with two
other towns – Saitual and Hnahthial. The
successive Congress Governments
refused to implement the district citing
financial constraints. “Now that MNF has promised to
implement Khawzawl district, which is
the unfulfilled aspiration of the people
of my constituency, the wind blows in
favour of MNF candidate. Now, there
is nothing left for me than to go back
to Aizawl and tender my resignation as
MLA and from
Congress party,”
he said.
Sailo also mentioned
that he had already
been “removed” from
Congress legislature
party and that the
party high command
was looking for
someone else to
contest from Tuichang
constituency on
Congress ticket.
Even though Sailo
said he would later
decide his future course, insiders in
MNF have said that he would contest
from Chalfilh constituency on the party’s
ticket. He also indicated that he is
joining MNF as he appealed the people
during a public rally at Khawzawl on
Saturday to vote for the MNF candidate.
“You will do me a favour when you vote
for the MNF candidate,” he said.
The second most important person
in the Lal Thanhawla Cabinet and
Congress vice president R Lalzirliana
had resigned and was subsequently
expelled from the party.
High chances
are that Lalzirliana will contest from
his traditional constituency Tawi on
MNF ticket with Saitual district as his
main poll plank.
As Sailo made his final tour, many
women were seen breaking down into
tears as they bade farewell to the man
who has been their legislator for 15 years. - Assam Tribune
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