Aizawl: Mizoram’s main Opposition party, Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) has tied-up with Opposition Congress in at least 35 village councils (VCs) in the run up to the rural and local body polls, sources in the Congress party said.
Polling for 558 village councils in nine districts and 83 local councils within Aizawl municipal area will be held on August 27.
The sources said that the alliance was local based and not made at party headquarters level.
It said that each unit or village council was given free hand to be tied up with any party according to its convenience.
“Even though the Congress is worthless in the eyes of ZPM leaders at general headquarters, the party leaders and workers at local level are enthusiastic to work with Congress and we can’t sternly reject such offers,” sources said.
Also Read: Mizoram Cong, BJP demand state EC to defer local body polls amid COVID-19
Meanwhile, ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) vice president Lalthlengliana launched an attack on ZPM for allegedly back tracking from its earlier promise.
Quoting ZPM secretary general K Sapdanga, the MNF leader said that the opposition had earlier sworn to fight the coming village council and local council polls alone.
“Soon after the last Lok Sabha polls in April last year, ZPM president Lalliansawta had said that one of the blunders committed by its party was its “alliance” with Congress in the Lok Sabha polls,” Lalthlenglian said.
He also said that the ZPM, which claimed to have received strong public support, has not only tied up with Congress in 35 village councils but failed to contest in 16 village councils.
Congress spokesperson Dr Lallianchhunga accused the ruling MNF of misusing state’s flagship programme- Socio-Economic Development Policy (SEDP) to woo voters.
Also Read: Mizoram: MNF, HPC forge electoral alliance for village council polls
No MNF leaders could be contacted on the allegations.
Campaign for the upcoming village and local council polls is gaining momentum amidst the spread of coronavirus.
There are 2,454 seats in village councils, of which 630 are reserved for women while the total number of seats in local councils is 545, including 148 seats reserved for women.
Counting of votes will be undertaken on August 27 as soon as polling is over.
