Former Mizoram Minister and MNF leader K. Beichhua to join BJP

Former Minister of State for Excise and Narcotics, Mizoram and sitting Mizo National Front (MNF) legislator, Dr K Beichhua will join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) soon.

The former Minister who is also a retired surgeon, would formally join the BJP once the date of the upcoming State Assembly Polls is declared, said Dr K Beichhua in a press conference on Thursday evening in south Mizoram’s Siaha town.

He said that he will contest the upcoming elections on BJP ticket from Siaha constituency and exuded confidence that he will win the election. Dr K Beichhua won the Assembly elections from the same constituency as MNF candidate in 2018.

The former Minister said that until he joins BJP, he would continue to be an independent legislator supporting the BJP in the state legislature.

The Election Commission of India is likely to announce general elections to the Mizoram Assembly by late September or early October.

K Beichhua resigned from the Zoramthanga Ministry on December 13, 2022. He said that he resigned after he was told by Chief Minister and MNF President Zoramthanga to resign as he (CM Zoramthanga) wanted to reshuffle the Cabinet.

Later, on January 25, the ruling MNF expelled him as a primary member of the party along with the chairman of the Mara Autonomous District Council (MADC) N. Viakhu for ‘anti-party activities’.

Beichhua was accused of being instrumental in toppling the MNF-Congress coalition government in MADC and installing the BJP government by instigating the defection of some MNF members of the district council (MDCs) to the fold of the saffron party.

Recent elections to the village councils within the MADC area indicated that the BJP has gained ground in Siaha district which has two assembly seats.

The BJP already has Dr. B.D. Chakma who won from Tuichawng assembly constituency in the adjoining Lawngtlai district in the 2018 assembly polls.

This was the first time that BJP opened its account in the Mizoram legislature.