Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)  has named veteran politician  and Mizoram State unit vice  president Nirupam Chakma  as its candidate for the Mizoram’s lone Lok Sabha seat.  BJP is the last to announce  its candidate for the election  that will be held on April 11.  A veteran Congress leader, Nirupam is also the first  Minister from Chakma  community in Mizoram. He  quit Congress in 2015 and  joined the BJP.  

Nirupam Chakma BJP


Nirupam first contested  the State Assembly polls in  1987 from Chawngte seat  and was elected. He again  won from the constituency  in 1989 and was sworn in as  a Minister of State on January 25, 1989 to become the  first ever Chakma Minister  in the State.  He was again inducted as  Minister of State after winning the State Assembly  polls in 1993.  He again won the State  Assembly polls in 1998 and  2003 when the Congress sat  in the opposition and was  denied a Ministry berth  when the party returned to  power in the 2008 State Assembly polls when Nihar  Kanti Chakma, a younger  man was inducted as Minister of State.  He was denied the Congress ticket in the 2013 State  Assembly polls and was not  given the post of Chief Executive Member of the Chakma Autonomous District  Council (CADC).  

There are five candidates  in the fray now. While Congress and Zoram People’s  Movement have fielded a  young leader Lalnghinglova  (Tetea) Hmar as their common candidate, the Mizoram  National Front has fielded  former DDK director C Lalrosanga. PRISM has nominated TB C Lalvenchhunga  as its candidate, while Lalhriatrenga Chhangte, who took  voluntary retirement as  Deputy Controller of Mines  under the Central Government, will contest as independent candidate.  

With the State vehemently opposing the Citizenship  (Amendment) Bill (CAB),  the Bill is the major campaign agenda for the opposition alliance. -Assam Tribune

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