‘Change’ over ethnic identity politics: Why MNF lost Mizoram

The Zoram People’s Movement romped home with its educated, untested candidates and the promise of ‘corruption-free governance’.

Dec 4, 2023 - 23:30

‘Change’ over ethnic identity politics: Why MNF lost Mizoram

The Zoram People’s Movement, the youngest political party in the fray in Mizoram, has won a thumping majority in the assembly elections, with voters emphatically rejecting the Mizo National Front and Chief Minister Zoramthanga.

Led by a former Indian Police Service officer Lalduhoma, the Zoram People’s Movement has won 27 seats in Mizoram’s 40-seater Assembly with the promise of a “new, corruption-free governance”. That adds up to a vote share of 37.86% – a striking improvement of 16 percentage points over the 2018 state election.

The Mizo National Front has taken a severe beating in the election, despite its invocation of Zo nationalism to rally its voters. Its tally now stands at 10 seats compared to 27 seats in 2018. The party’s vote share has shrunk by 2.6 %, from 37.70% in 2018.

A measure of discontent against the government was evident in the fate of Zoramthanga, who lost Aizawl East-I seat to a ZPM candidate.

The limits of Zo nationalism

Mizo National Front leader Zoramthanga went into the election, banking on his reputation as a leader unafraid to defy a powerful Centre as he opened the doors of the state to Kuki-Chin-Zo refugees fleeing the violence in Myanmar, and, subsequently, the ethnic conflict in Manipur.

Mizos share...