PRISM announces candidate for lone Lok Sabha seat in Mizoram

Aizawl: People’s Representation for Identity and Status of Mizoram (PRISM), an anti-corruption watchdog turned political party, on Monday announced its candidate for the lone Lok Sabha seat.

Lok Sabha polls will be held in Mizoram simultaneously with assembly by-election to Aizawl West-I seat on April 11.

PRISM president Vanlalruata declared the party’s Champhai district chief TBC Lalvenchhunga as contender for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in a function held at Tuivamit here. This is the first time PRISM is contesting the Lok Sabha election after being floated as a political party last year.

In the assembly elections held in November last year, the party fielded 13 candidates but failed to secure a seat.

Speaking on the occasion, Vanlalruata said PRISM stand for protection of the Mizos and development of Mizoram as a whole. He said that the party is in favour of achieving freedom for the Mizo tribal.

The PRISM president said that his party has rejected the invitation from Congress and Zoram People’s Movement (MZP) to join their alliance because sustaining “secularism” for all religious minorities and backward classes as preached by Congress-ZPM combine was not acceptable for PRISM as the Mizos faced enormous problems due to other backward classes.

Vanlalruatu said that his party, though believe in secularism, has stood for only the rights of the Mizos. He also alleged that the Centre is trying to suppress the right of the indigenous Mizos through Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.

Party candidate Lalvenchhunga said he would try his best to fulfill the party’s promises if he was elected to Lok Sabha. He said that no political parties have so far fielded candidates from outside Aizawl for Lok Sabha polls in the past.

Born at Kelkang village in Champhai district, Lalvenchhunga had joined Indian Navy after completing class-XII and retired as petty officer (Engineer mechanic) in 2016. During his service in Indian navy, he completed different courses, including BA (Public Administration), Marine Technology , Nuclear Biological Chemical Defence and Damage Control (Fire Fighting) Basic Course and ISO 9001:2008 Internal Auditor.

After his retirement, he started business by forming his own enterprise known as TBC enterprise in Champhai and has actively involved in non-governmental organizations including Young Mizo Association (YMA) and Champhai Thalai Pawl (Youth association).

Although four candidates have been already declared for the fray till date, Mizoram is likely to see five candidates in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls as BJP is yet to announce its candidate.

The battle for the lone Lok Sabha seat in the state this time will primarily be a two-cornered contest between the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) and Congress-ZPM combine.

While MNF has fielded former director general of Doordarshan C Lalrosanga, the Cong-ZPM combine has projected Lalnghinglova Hmar, a man believed to have revolutionised football in the state.

Former deputy controller of mines Lalhriatrenga Chhangte is also contesting the polls as independent.