AIZAWL, Oct 7: After being in power
for two consecutive terms, internal
squabbles and anti-incumbency factor
are making the situation difficult for Congress
in Mizoram which is expected to
face a tough challenge from Mizo National
Front (MNF) in the upcoming Assembly
polls. The State goes to poll on
November 28.
Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla on
Saturday alleged that his former Cabinet
colleagues R Lalzirliana and Lalrinliana
Sailo were “corrupt” when they
were Ministers.
Lalzirliana, who was the State Home
Minister, resigned on September 14 after
he was served a show cause notice
by Congress’ Disciplinary Action Committee
(DAC). He was expelled from the
party on September 17.
The recent resignation of former
Minister Lalrinliana Sailo from Congress is also seen as a major setback for
the ruling party.
Thanhawla also hit out at Aizawl Football
Club president Robert Romawia
Royte, who recently joined MNF, saying
proceedings would be initiated against him
regarding allegations of over Rs 200 crore
graft while in government service.
Royte, popularly known as ‘Triple R’,
will contest the Assembly poll from Aizawl
East-II seat against State Finance
Minister Lalsawta.
Sources in Mizoram Pradesh Congress
Committee (MPCC) said though only a
few people have left the party, cracks have
begun to appear in its rank and file.
“The mood within the party is clear
from the fact that its nomination committee
has failed to make any decision
till the announcement of poll date on Saturday,
while the MNF has already made
public the list of candidates for at least 98
per cent of the seats,” they said.
The Congress was defeated by MNF
and Mizoram People’s Conference
(MPC) combine in 1998. At that time,
then Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla did
not make it to the State Assembly as he
was defeated in his home turf, Serchhip,
by K Thangzuala of MNF.
Congress returned to power in
2008 by bagging 32 seats and again in
2013 by winning 34 seats in the 40-
member Assembly.
MNF vice president R Lalthangliana
has claimed that many Congress workers
would soon leave the ruling party following
the footsteps of Lalzirliana and Sailo
as they have to abandon the “sinking ship”
being steered by Lal Thanhawla.
Lalthangliana claimed that power
struggle within the Congress has reached
its climax and many of its workers would
join MNF. – PTI
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