Mizoram Polls 2023: Cong open for alliance with ZPM, says Mizoram Cong chief

Mizoram Congress president Lalsawta hopes that his party will get the desired numbers to form the government on its own

With political temperatures soaring in poll bound Mizoram, the Congress has once again expressed its willingness to align with the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) in a bid to keep the MNF as well as the BJP out of power.

Speaking to Northeast Live, Lalsawta said, “If there is a hung assembly, we will not work with BJP. Secondly, we will not work with the MNF. About ZPM, we the leaders of the Congress party will consult together and we will decide.”

When asked about ZPM Chief Lalduhoma flatly refusing to align with the Congress, Lalsawta said, “If Pu Lalduhoma says that he will not work with the Congress here in Mizoram, the party that cannot work together with the Congress which is not as harmful as the BJP, then there would have to be a hung assembly and then they will be forced to work together with the BJP or they will perhaps work with the MNF. That I cannot predict. But as for Congress we may possibly work with ZPM if the situation demands and if the Congress leaders come together and decide.”

“We intend to win the election and we are hoping that we will get the required number of winning candidates,” Lalsawta said.

Speaking on the issue of defying MZP diktat and fielding Meriam L Huangkhal in Lunglei South constituency, Lalsawta said that she is an asset for the party who is going to win and that the party stands by her. There should not be any misinformation regarding her ethnicity, Lalsawta said, even as he expressed hope that the MZP will understand this and let her freely contest the election.

Earlier, in an interview with Northeast Live on October 21, Lalsawta speaking about possibilities of a post poll alliance had said, “We are trying to form the government on our own. We have been trying to do that. In case there needs to be an alliance, there are 2 possibilities – we will not work with the BJP and secondly we will not work with the MNF. About ZPM our leaders will decide, but not now after the elections. That is a matter to be taken up post election. Our options with ZPM are open depending upon the circumstances we cannot allow the MNF to be in Mizoram. If there can be no absolute majority for any party then we will have to consider a coalition government with ZPM but that is a matter to be decided by the leaders of Congress, here in Mizoram and also those in Delhi.”

Read also: Mizoram Polls 2023: Cong manifesto promises corruption-free state, health insurance up to Rs 15 lakh, LPG cylinders at Rs 750 and more

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