MNF as CM Zoramthanga says won’t share campaign stage with Modi
The rift between Zoramthanga’s Mizo National Front (MNF) and the BJP in Mizoram has become increasingly apparent as Chief Minister Zoramthanga has announced that he will not share a stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the upcoming campaign for the state’s assembly elections. His comment comes despite his party’s affiliation with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led North East Democratic Alliance, while PM Modi is expected to visit Mizoram around 30 October to campaign for the BJP in the northeastern state.
In a statement to BBC News, Zoramthanga expressed his reservations: “The people of Mizoram are predominantly Christians. When the people of Manipur (Meities) burned hundreds of churches in Manipur, they (Mizos) were vehemently opposed to such actions. Having sympathy for the BJP at this time would be a significant drawback for my party.”
“It would be better if the prime minister comes alone, shares the platform by himself, and I take the stage separately,” he said on Monday.
Mizoram is gearing up for assembly elections, scheduled for 7 November, with results to be declared on 3 December. The growing political tension between the MNF and the BJP highlights the complex political landscape in Mizoram.
Additionally, Zoramthanga’s stance on the issue of refugees from Myanmar has brought him into conflict with the central government. While the Centre has urged northeastern states to register biometric data of refugees from Myanmar fleeing the military regime’s crackdown, Zoramthanga has chosen to provide humanitarian assistance without such registration.
“The Indian government helped the refugees from the erstwhile East Pakistan and even armed them to attain independence. We don’t arm the refugees from Myanmar but simply provide them with food and shelter on humanitarian grounds,” he explained. Over 40,000 people from Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Manipur have found shelter in Mizoram.
Moreover, Zoramthanga has vocally opposed plans for a Uniform Civil Code, an issue pushed by several BJP leaders. He has also criticized the BJP-led governments at the state and Union for their handling of ethnic violence in Manipur. These stances further exemplify the MNF’s differing perspective on key national issues compared to its alliance with the BJP at the Centre.