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While the big story from Mizoram’s results is the rise of the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), which obtained 27 seats and checked the Congress and Mizo National Front’s duopoly in the state, the BJP also registered small but significant progress in Mizoram. The party clinched 2 seats, having won 1 last time in its first-ever poll win in the state.
Its lone MLA in the Christian-majority state in 2018 was Buddha Dhan Chakma, who represented the Tuichawng constituency. The party lost the seat this time but instead won two new seats: Saiha and Palak. K Beichhua won the former, while K Hrahmo got the latter.
Buddha Dhan is a leader from the Chakma community, an ethnic minority. They follow Buddhism and have a stronghold over the Tuichawng seat. The BJP winners this time are Maras, also an ethnic minority. However, they are Christians. The party, which has not been able to reach out to the Christian population of the state, is viewing this as a significant development.
“We had one MLA in the last Assembly and he was a Buddhist. This time, both winning candidates are also from a minority community, but they are Christians. This signals that the acceptability of the party has already started. We hope this increases in the future,” said BJP national spokesperson and Mizoram in-charge Mmhonlumo Kikon.
The party’s total vote share in the state has dropped – from 8.09% in 2018 to 5.06% – but this is also because the party contested in 23 seats as against the 40 seats last time. It had stood third, fourth or fifth in most states and was able to come second only in the Tuipui and Palak seats.
However, there is a hurdle for the party. Mizoram has been the most difficult state in the North East for the BJP to tackle so far. It has a poor track record in the state and an “anti-Christian” image among the deeply Christian Mizos.
This image took a further beating due to the ethnic conflict in neighbouring Manipur. The Kuki-Zomis who are in conflict with the Meiteis there are of the same ethnicity as the Mizo Christians.
The Biren Singh-led BJP government there is perceived to be partisan towards the Hindu Meitei community. With all these factors contributing to the wariness among the Mizos, the BJP calibrated its strategy in the state to focus its energies on seats where the ethnic minority voters play a decisive role.
Among significant defeats, however, was of state BJP president Vanlalhmuaka and former Assembly Speaker Lalrinliana Sailo, who had jumped ship from the MNF shortly before the elections.
Meanwhile, the Congress has been reduced to its worst position yet in the state. After being in government for two terms, the party had been able to win just 5 seats in 2018. This time, the party fell to 1, making this yet another Northeastern state where the party’s position in the Assembly is now negligible.
