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Journalism of Courage
Contesting from two prestigious seats of Serchhip and South Tuipui in Mizoram, state Pradesh Congress Committee President Lalthanhawla sounded hopeful of turning the tables on his political opponents.
The 40-member Mizoram assembly is going to polls on December 2.
Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi’s campaign in Serchhip has boosted the confidence of Congress workers in the state, party sources said.
Other Congress heavyweights like Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi are scheduled to hold rallies in the state capital and nearby constituencies.
Political analysts feel these rallies will aid Congress’ flagging morale before assembly election.
Rahul, whose grandmother Indira Gandhi, father Rajiv Gandhi and mother Sonia Gandhi are popular in Mizoram, has campaigned for Lalthanhawla in Serchhip.
Huge crowds greeted Rahul Gandhi during his visit on Friday and it has boosted confidence of the former chief minister.
“The mood is upbeat and Congress is going to win this election,” says an upbeat 61-year-old Lalthanhawla.
The former Chief Minister, who faces corruption charges related to assets disproportionate to his income and hydel project scandal, will have to fight it out against R Lalhnuna, MNF’s General Secretary and a first time candidate.
He is also pitted against C Lalramzauva, a lawyer and United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate whom the former defeated in 2003 by a margin of 1399 votes.
Lalthanhawla has represented the constituency four times.
He lost to K Thangzuala, a retired engineer, only in 1998 during the MNF wave. He was chief minister from 1984-86, 1989-93 and 1993-98.
After delimitation, South Tuipui seat in south Mizoram’s Lunglei district was created where Lalthanhawla is pitted against sitting MNF MLA F Lalthanzuala.
