Congress victorious in Mizoram Assembly polls 2013

December 13, 2013

Mizoram Assembly poll results are out and Congress has defeated its main rival Mizo National Front (MNF) by a huge margin. Although Congress faced debacle in the assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Delhi, it has managed to save face in Mizoram by registering a second consecutive win in the small Christian-dominated state that MNF once wanted to take out of the Indian Union.
It is Congress’ fourth electoral win after Mizoram attained statehood in 1987, following the signing of the historic 1986 Mizo Accord between the Centre and MNF led by the legendary Laldenga.

Results:
Of the total 40 seats Congress clinched 33 seats limiting its opponent MNF to a just 5 seats. Many give the credit of Congress’ triumph to Lal Thanhawla‘s popular Congress New Land Use Policy (NLUP), which was evolved to tackle jhum or shifting cultivation. Four-time chief minister Lal Thanhawla (71) has won from 2 seats – Serchhip and Hrangturzo. It is his 9^th electoral win since Mizoram became a Union territory in 1972 and a full-fledged state in 1987.