Mizoram Polls: Manipur Violence, Corruption, Deal for Farmers Uppermost on Voters’ Minds

Recently in Mizoram: Travelling through Mizoram just a few days before the polling date (November 7), one witnesses a not-so-usual election atmosphere—the absence of bustling campaigns, no cars roaming around with loud music, no roads covered with leaflets. In one sense, it is calm and decent, thanks to the Mizoram People’s Forum (MPF), under whose aegis the election disciplines are strictly followed.

Amidst this calm election environment, the voters observe who is saying what, silently but with great caution. For them, it’s the agenda of the parties and more so about the candidates, their backgrounds and the history of their political and social activities. 

What is top on the minds of voters -- youths, farmers and the working people at large? Is it only the Mizo sentiment, or are there many other factors in play?

Well, in this small North-Eastern state, the Mizo sentiment is of primary concern, and no political party appear to be disobeying it. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seemed to have irked the Mizos in the recent past, especially since the Manipur violence sparked and that state stands deeply divided between the Meiteis and the Zo-Kuki communities. The Mizos also belong to the larger Zo community residing in Manipur, Myanmar, or Bangladesh. BJP’s strategy for this election, at least as the people in Mizoram look at it, has been described in our previous report, which can be found here. 

But ‘Mizo’ sentiment is not all; people are also looking at some basic issues as well. The sentiment of the Mizos is not being contradicted by most of the political parties in the fray, and the voters cannot be wooed only by it; there needs to be something more substantial. 

Better Deal for Farmers

Farmers’ issues are an important factor in this election. In a hill state like Mizoram, agriculture is one of the most important livelihood sectors. Notably, the last Census (2011) put Mizoram among the top five urbanised states/Union Territories in the country. But, in the urbanised state as well, more than half of the population earns a major portion of their income from agriculture (as the state economic survey suggests). 

As written by The Frontier Despatch (TFD), a weekly magazine published by Aizawl in English and Mizo, the agriculture and horticulture sectors show an upward trend as Mizoram’s biggest source of livelihood in terms of persons engaged. 

Courtesy: TFD, October 27, 2023.

However, analyses also show weak availability of irrigation facilities in the state. This may be a reflection of the neglect of government policies. 

Courtesy: TFD, October 27, 2023.

The huge dependence of the people on agriculture in the state and farmers’ worries probably have led to the major Opposition parties to take the side of farmers with promises of a better deal for them among their top priorities. 

NewsClick spoke to Zomuana SR, president of the Farming Corporation of Serchhip, a farming hub of the state. Serchhip is around 90 kilometres from the state capital of Aizawl and can be reached in four hours or so in Tata Sumos, the major form of public transport. 

Paddy Fields of Mizoram. Photo Provided by Zomuana.

Farmers plotting their rice seedlings in fields. Photo: Zomuana

Zomuana clearly stated that the incumbent Mizo National Front (MNF) government had failed in boosting farming. “Let me describe what has been happening to us,” he told NewsClick while describing the faults in development projects.

“Zawlpui is a major agricultural area. The extension of NH 54 created huge problems for the paddy growers here as cutting of the hills caused landslides that filled the paddy fields. Back in 2019, we gave a memorandum to the deputy commissioner of the district,” he said.

“In 2022, the loss was less, but in 2023, it was worst,” he said, adding “A minister belonging to the MNF also visited the place, but nothing was done. Till September 2023, landslides happened that filled our paddy fields.’

The Serchhip district lies between two very important rivers—the Mat and the Tuikum. “While River Tuikum is a source for drinking water for Serchhip, River Mat is the source for irrigation water for Zawlpui, the rice bowl of Serchhip. Serchhip is also the main producer of cabbages and mustard in Mizoram,” as per the environmental impact assessment report, which is part of the Government of India’s preparatory study for widening and improvement of National Highway 54.

More importantly, Serchhip has the highest literacy rate in the country as a district and is the major grower of Rabi crops along with mustard and rice in Mizoram. 

Courtesy: TFD, October 27, 2023.

SEDP, SRDP and Secularism, Democracy

The Socio-Economic Development Programme (SEDP) is the flagship programme of the MNF government, which the party has picked up as its main campaign agenda for this election. “During the first term of our government, 1,500 families were enrolled, and there will be 1,000 more if MNF comes to power,” Jerry told NewsClick. Jerry is a block-level organiser of MNF in Serchhip. 

The SEDP is a family-oriented programme with the aim of uplifting the economic condition of families by means of providing financial help. Mizoram has seen other such flagship programmes, like the New Land Use Policy (NLUP) under the Congress government with Lal Thanhawla as the Chief Minister, who is a veteran politician of Mizoram with the record of being a five-time Chief Minister.

“But the SEDP seems like something aimed to benefit MNF members and supporters, as it is a family-oriented programme,” a local Aizawl resident told NewsClick. “There has to be transparency in such cases. The MNF is talking about youth-oriented SEDP if they come to power again, but it may be an election gimmick,” he added.

On the other hand, the ZPM (Zoram People’s Movement) affirms there will be more transparency in its holistic proposal of the Sustainable Development and Reform Policy (SDRP). “For us, the first priority is to uplift farmers and the working people in Mizoram. Under SDRP, we dream of a corruption-free Mizoram with financial reform, land reform and uplifting unemployed youths,” Johny Lalchouanmawia, block joint secretary of ZPM, Serchhip, told NewsClick.

Commenting on it, Zama, assistant professor of Lunglei government college, told NewsClick, “The ZPM is well researched while formulating their proposed programme. They have many well-known researchers of Mizoram University in their fold. As they said, ZPM stands for the idea of a ‘Government of People’. But, will it implement what has been said in case the party can form the government or not is a matter to be seen later?” he added.

The Congress [arty, meanwhile, has been emphasising more on secularism and democracy in line with the national agenda. T. Zabiaka, a local congress leader, told NewsClick, “Secularism is the greatest issue that the INC stands for. There is high anti-incumbency against the MNF government, and people will stand with Congress. This is apparent from the huge support and response of people when Rahul Gandhi came to Mizoram.”

Critising ZPM and MNF, he said both are quite close to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). “We know about the MNF, but ZPM is no better. They also can go with BJP if neede, ” he said.

C. L. Hlua, president of the Mizoram Journalist Association (MJA), Serchhip, while explaining the patterns of voters, said that neutral voters played a significant role in Mizoram as this section accounted for nearly 30% of the voters.

“The party voters are fixed, and the neutral voters, which also have the new voters, are significant. They are also the silent voters, and they judge very carefully whom to vote for,” he said, adding that “If the neutral voters really want a change this time, then there can be something very interesting.”

“However, this is going to be a tough fight. In urban areas, ZPM has an edge, but in rural areas, it is MNF versus the INC. It can be a hung Assembly as well,” Hlua said.

Youth for Change?

Chana is a taxi driver in Aizawl. He is also literate but could not continue his studies after 8th standard because of his family’s poor economic condition. He has two siblings, and he dreams of them studying till the university level.

“The youth want change this time. Enough of the two parties that have ruled Mizoram,” Chana told NewsClick in one of the conversations. In Mizoram, it has been a binary system where MNF and INC have formed governments. 

On being asked why the youth wanted change, Chana said, “The incumbent government and also the present CM have lied to the people of Mizoram. There are huge corruption allegations against them. Corruption means mishandling of public money, which could have been utilised providing employment to the youths.”

Despite this, he couldn’t shy away from lauding Chief Minister Zoramthanga, who provided shelter to the internally displaced Zo people from Manipur and Myanmar as well. “He refused the Central government’s directives of providing biometrics or stopping people coming to Mizoram from Myanmar. They are our brothers and sisters, so helping them is our duty,” Chana said. 

“But even then, corruption and the rampant unemployment in Mizoram cannot be overlooked. There has to be a new policy and change,” he said, hinting his support for the new contender in Mizoram politics – ZPM.

“Youths in Mizoram, including the urban and rural poor, seem to be attracted to the idea of a change in Mizoram this time,” Chana said, adding that “The Mizo sentiment is predominant in Mizoram, and nobody can disrespect that. But the MNF government is ultra-nationalist, and they seemed to have ignored basic issues.”

NewsClick also spoke to the president of Mizoram Truck Owners’ Association, B Lalzarzouva, regarding the problems they face. He said the road conditions are the biggest concern for them.

“Roads in many parts of Mizoram are in a dilapidated condition. This makes the vehicles take longer in travelling. Forget about small cars; even trucks face severe problems due to the bad road conditions,” he told NewsClick, adding that the youth actually want some change and reforms. 

“Mizoram has seen the INC and the MNF as the only parties to have formed governments. But youths, at least in urban areas, are looking for a change this time,” said David, the financial secretary of MTOA.