By Prasanta Mazumdar Aizawl, Nov 19 : More than half of the state's voters are women, but only six are in the fray for the 40 assembly seats.
Women make up almost 51 per cent of Mizoram’s voters but they are still being treated as second class citizens, both politically and socially.
In patriarchal Mizoram, Mizos are guided by customary laws that deny women the right to inherit property among others. These laws give a Mizo man the right to marry a woman by paying a bride price of Rs 400 and Rs 20 as security deposit. In the event of divorce, a woman can get back her belongings by returning the security money.
Earlier, the bride price was equivalent to a ‘mithun, a semi-wild bison valued highly by tribes in the northeast. The social codes find few followers in urban Mizoram today. But that hasn’t changed the status of women in the state which boasts of being the second most literate state in the country.
Mizoram, which has 40 assembly seats, will go to the polls on November 25. Of the total 686,305 voters, 349,506 are women.
“Women in Mizoram don’t get the respect they deserve. It’s unfortunate that we are still holding onto our patriarchal mindset,” Ruth, a woman leader, told dna. She added: “The society doesn’t think women are capable of being leaders. We have to change that mindset.”
Till date, only three women – Thanmawii and K Thansiami (both of the People’s Congress), and Lalhlimpuii (Mizo National Front) have made it to the assembly. Lalhlimpuii went on to become a minister.
In the 2010 civic body polls which the Congress won, six of the 19 seats were reserved for women. This had brightened the hopes of groups fighting for women empowerment. But the excitement was short-lived as only six women have been fielded for the 2013 assembly polls.
Altogether 141 candidates are in the fray. Political parties say they choose candidates judging ‘winnability’.
In 1998, the Congress and the regional parties fielded 10 women. The number was seven and nine for the 2003 and 2008 polls respectively.
“The fate of women in Mizoram will change once the Mizo Divorce Bill and the Mizo Inheritance Bill are pushed through. The Bills will hang fire as long as women don’t have their representatives in the assembly,” said Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl leader Lalrintluangi.
Aizawl, Nov 19 : Three decades after the issue of Mizo nationalism went into oblivion, the Mizoram opposition alliance has raked it up as one of their main planks of their November 25 state Assembly poll campaign.
“The issue (Mizo nationalism) was always there as it is the issue of our own identity. No one can ever compromise with his or her identity, or the identity of his community which is at stake,” said F Aithanga, senior leader of the Mizo National Front (MNF), which leads the Mizoram Democratic Alliance (MDA).
“Our main aim is the development of the economic conditions for the Mizos and protection of their identity,” Aithanga said.
Observers here feel that unemployment and backwardness, almost three decades after the creation of Mizoram, has provided the MNF with the opportunity to the issue of nationalism and economic sovereignty.
The ruling Congress, on the other hand, feels that bringing up the issue of Mizo nationalism is futile.
“The MNF is trying to misguide the masses. It is talking of Mizo nationalism, but the fact is that its members themselves had surrendered in 1986 due to infighting in their own ranks. When the surrender took place, only a handful of people turned out,” campaign head of the Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) David M Thangliana said.
The MNF rubbished Congress’ claims and said the surrender was in order to keep the movement over ground.
The MDA is also trying to revive the sentiments of the people on its other demands for economic sovereignty.
Another poll issue involves photographs of Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla that show him with a tilak and attending pujas. After it appeared in a local newspaper, the MDA accused him and the Congress of hurting the sentiments of the Christian-dominant Mizoram society.
It even took out processions here to protest the chief minister’s alleged practice of another religion.
Lal Thanhawla’s comment that even Christian pastors wore tilaks when they go outside the state triggered a controversy and the powerful Presbyter Church condemned it.
“The tilak issue and the chief minister’s statement have created some confusion. But we don’t think that the MNF will be able to encash on it as much as they are hoping to,” said David M Thangliana, campaign head of the MPCC.
The issue of Congress’ New Land Use Policy (NLUP) and the proposed Special Economic Development Program (SEPD) of the MDA also figured during campaign.
The main aim of the NLUP was to develop and give all farmers in the state suitable, permanent and stable trades.
Political
parties in Mizoram have been using social media and mobile phones to
woo voters, especially the youths, for the coming election to the
40-member state assembly to be held on November 25.
Zoram Nationalist Party chief Lalduhawma has an account on Facebook.
Rothuama Sailo, a close aide of Lalduhawma said a large number of
Facebook users have taken to the medium to talk to the ZNP chief and ask
him a plethora of questions on how he would govern the state if voted
to power.
"We also send the party press releases to local mediapersons through
Facebook," Sailo said, adding that the social networking site is so
useful that they could issue press statements even while in remote
villages.
He said that Internet SMS service 'way2sms' was also extensively used to send press releases to journalists'.
The ZNP has also used local cable television channels for campaigning
as videotapes of the interview of the party chief were sent to
different towns to be telecast, he said.
Youth leaders of the ruling Congress and the main opposition Mizo
National Front have been fighting the crucial political battle for at
least three years, and the battleground was not public meeting but
Internet.
Facebook groups like 'Zoram Thlirtu', 'Dingdi', 'Zoram Khawvel' and
'Special Report' have been used by young politicians to put forward
their views and the views of their parties and the groups have become
arenas for political debate.
One political party even organised training for young party workers
on how to use social media to the maximum advantage of the party during
the coming Assembly polls.
Apart from Lalduhawma, sports minister Zodintluanga has also used Facebook as a medium of reaching out to the people.
The Mizoram Democratic Alliance, the alliance of the MNF, the Mizoram
People's Conference and the Maraland Democratic Front are using SMSes
for canvassing.
Lowest number of criminals, 53 pc crorepatis, 6 women
The North Eastern state of Mizoram, which is also going to polls on November 25, has just 2 candidates who have declared criminal cases against them in the affidavit.
A total of 142 candidates are in the fray for the 40-member state Assembly. According to an analysis done by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), only two Mizo National Front (MNF) candidates have criminal registered cases against them. Interestingly, every second candidate is a crorepati in this tiny hill state.
Of 142 candidates, 75 candidates are crorepatis. R Lalwia of ZNP contesting from Serlui is the richest candidates in the fray with a declared assets worth over Rs 68 crore. The MNF candidate from Aizwal West K Sangthuama is worth over Rs 25 crore. The chief minister and the Congress candidate from two constituencies Lal Thanhawla has declared assets worth Rs 14 crore.
Mizoram polls: 2 criminal candidates, 53 per cent crorepatis, 6 women
R Lalwia of ZNP contesting from Serlui is the richest candidates in the fray with a declared assets worth over Rs 68 crore.
Ninety-seven candidates are graduates or above. A total number of 111 candidates have not declared their PAN numbers. Shockingly only one candidate has filed Income Tax Returns.
The more shocking thing is the representation of women. There are just 6 women candidates in the fray. The BJP has fielded 3, the ruling Congress and the main opposition MNF have given ticket to just 1 woman each. There is also an independent woman candidate trying her luck.
Sonia promises sports centres in each district
Lunglei(Mizoram): Congress president Sonia Gandhi today promised voters in poll-bound Mizoram that her party if returned to power would set up sports centres in each district to promote sportspersons.
Addressing an election rally here, Sonia Gandhi said : “We will fully support the initiative for full-fledged sports area in all district headquarters and the establishments of centres of excellence in different sports so that young men and women can get properly trained.”
Sonia Gandhi mentioned the National Food Security law, and said this would help the people of Mizoram to a large extent.
"We have made much progress in the country and in the northeast, in Mizoram, but in spite of that we all know that we have many areas where people suffer from malnutrition, especially children and expecting mothers. It seems to me as a challenge to ensure that everyone gets a meal”, he said.
Mizoram is one among the seven north eastern states which has given several athletes and renowned sportspersons to the country.
Polling will be held for the 40-seat Mizoram assembly on November 25.
Tight security for poll officials in Bru camps
Mizoram election department officials said elaborate security arrangements have been made for poll officials who have left for relief camps in Tripura to conduct polling for Bru voters lodged in six relief camps on November 19 and 20.
The move was necessitated to thwart any possible attempt by Mizo Students' Union (MSU) activists to prevent them from performing their duty.
Police said in Mamit district, 45 MSU activists were waiting at Kanhmun village on the Tripura border to stop election personnel from crossing the Langkaih bridge and enter Tripura. The officials are likely to cross the border at Kanhmun and enter Dhamcherra in Tripura at 7:30 pm.
The MSU leaders, in a press conference on Friday, said they did not object to the exercise of franchise by Bru voters, but opposed the conduct of polling outside the state through postal ballots.
"Let the Brus, who refused to return despite several appeals from the central and the state governments, come here and exercise their franchise. We will welcome them," said Zodinpuia, president of MSU.
Zodinpuia added that MSU found it unnecessary that the polling officials should be sent to relief camps to conduct the polling and the students would make another appeal to the election officials at the border village of Kanhmun.
There were about 11,332 voters in Bru relief camps enrolled in 9 assembly seats of Mizoram.
'Centre to act against illegal immigration in Mizoram'
The Centre was aware of illegal immigration in
Mizoram and would take measures to check it, Congress president Sonia
Gandhi said on Monday.
Addressing an election rally in
Lunglei town, the UPA chairperson said that appropriate action would be
taken to address the problem of illegal influx of foreigners through the
international borders.
Gandhi, who went to Lunglei, 200 km away
from here by helicopter from the Lengpui Airport, also said that efforts
would be made to solve the boundary issues with neighbouring countries
and states.
Gandhi said after exploration and production of hydrocarbon deposits in the state, more employment would be generated for youth.
Profits from the sale of hydrocarbon would be shared equally by the Centre and the state, she said.
She
said that the ongoing Kaladan, Tuirial and Tuivai hydro-electricity
projects and the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transport Project would be
completed soon creating more jobs for youth.
Appealing to young
voters, Gandhi said that better sports infrastructure and women hostels
would be set up in all district headquarters to help students and
working women.
Speaking on the Food Security Act, she said it
would not only minimise malnutrition, but also ensure that poor people
both in the rural and urban areas could avail food at a cheaper and
affordable price.
Stating that the Centre was aware of the high
prevalence of cancer in Mizoram, she said, a 100-bed cancer hospital
equipped with state-of-the-art equipment for diagnostic and treatment
would be set up.
Gandhi was accompanied by Chief Minister Lal
Thanhawla, AICC leaders Ambika Soni and Luizinho Faleiro and three party
candidates from Lunglei district.
The Congress president returned to Delhi after the election rally.
Kohima, Nov 19 : In move towards overcoming the Aggregate Technical and
Commercial (AT&C) losses to the extent of 60 per cent faced by the
state through power supply, the Department of Power, Nagaland would be
introducing pre-paid power meters throughout the state in a phased
manner.
The pilot project in the state would first be implemented
in Dimapur district, said Parliamentary Secretary for Power, C Kipili
Sangtam while inspecting the colonies where the pre-paid power meters
were to be installed.
It is expected to be completed by the end of November this year.
Referring
to the pilot project for implementation of pre-paid power meters, he
pointed out that it was already implemented in other states and the
department under phase-I was opening a new chapter and hoped it would
help build discipline among people.
According to a handout issued
by the state Power department, Nagaland is presently reeling under a
heavy Aggregate Technical and Commercial loss to the extent of 60 per
cent.
In order to bring about reforms in power sector and also
reduce the AT&C losses, the state government has taken up the
project to install pre-paid power meters to offset the huge losses.
It
also revealed that 60 per cent of power allocated to Nagaland was
consumed by Dimapur load centre but that the revenue collection in
Dimapur was one of the lowest.
The BJP in Arunachal Pradesh has accused a Congress MLA of resorting to corruption while executing a power project in remote Anjaw district bordering China.
The party in a statement today alleged that Congress MLA Karikho Kri has misused public money and misled the state government along with AICC secretary in charge of Arunachal Pradesh Sanjay Bapna about the actual status of the Hatipani hydel project in the district.
The 2x50 kilowatt project was inaugurated on January 2 by Rajya Sabha member Mukut Mithi.
"Surprisingly, as per the list of existing hydel stations under department of hydro power development (DHPD), the project had been commissioned in 2009," Anjaw district BJP president Banim Kri claimed.
He said he visited the site on November 10 and found that equipments like turbines, penstock, etc were lying neglected.
During an interaction with the villagers of Goiliang, he was informed that a portable generator had been used to supply electricity to the entire circle headquarters on the day of the inauguration.
"Right from the very next day, there was no electricity in the area and the same is true to this day," the BJP leader said and demanded a CBI inquiry to unearth the exact magnitude and extent of corruption.
For hours, Lalsawta, Sailothanga Sailo and K Laltuvela answered a volley of questions from voters at a joint campaign platform organised by local NGOs on Thursday evening. But not once, they attacked or criticised the rivals.
They are candidates in the prestigious Aizawl East-II assembly constituency in Mizoram which goes to polls on November 25.
In a country where polls are fought bitterly, Mizoram has set a precedent of sorts by being peaceful all along. “Discipline is an inherent culture of the Mizos. The parties may have political and ideological differences but they always stay away from mudslinging,” retired government officer LR Sailo told dna.
Campaigning here is always a low-key affair and free from noise and violence. Common platforms and door-to-door visits by candidates are by and large the only modes of campaigning.
Candidates here spend very little from their pockets as money required to organise common platforms are generated by locals.
“If a candidate spends money unofficially, he is shamed through a public address system while people are advised to be wary of him,” Lalramuana, an NGO worker, said.
On Sunday, politics in Mizoram mingles with spirituality
As the Assembly polls are inching closure in Mizoram, where about 90 per cent of people practise Christianity, political parties are using Sunday Mass to connect with the electorate.
In Christian majority Mizoram, Sunday is not only a holiday but also a day when everything comes to a halt, including political campaigns, as nothing is more important than their weekly routine of going to Church.
Active campaigning takes a backseat on the day of rest as leaders of all main political parties visit churches in their respective constituencies to hold Bible classes.
The all powerful Presbyterian Chruch controlled Mizoram People's Forum (MPF), an election watchdog, has prohibited any kind of political campaigns in Mizoram on Sundays.
"Sunday is a holiday in Mizoram, whether its political campaign or offices. Everything comes to a halt on Sundays. We too visit churches on Sunday for prayers," campaign head of Mizoram Pradesh Congress David M Thangliana said.
Main opposition party Mizoram National Front (MNF), former chief minister Zoramthanga, President of the regional Zoram Nationalist Party Lalduhawma, and even Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla take Bible classes in churches in their respective localities or constituencies.
Lalduhawma, who is a church elder, also takes Bible classes and sometimes delivers sermons in the local church in his home locality.
Zoramthanga, teaches the 'Book of Psalms' at Sunday Bible classes in his home locality in Aizawl.
But this regular Sunday church duty is not entirely without political discussions, when various political leaders visit the church for Sunday prayers and have an interaction with the common people visiting the Church.
"It is obvious that when you have a politician visiting a church for Sunday prayers, political conversations, though covertly, may come up when they interact or greet others visiting the church," said James, a shopkeeper in Aizwal town.
Around 6.86 lakh voters will exercise their franchise on November 25 for the election of 40 members to the Mizoram Assembly and decide the fate of 142 candidates who are in the poll fray.
An outsider to Christian-majority Mizoram will hardly be able to realise that Assembly elections here are just a week away as posters, placards and wall graffiti are few.
It is the all powerful Presbyterian Church controlled Mizoram People’s Forum (MPF), an election watchdog, that dictates the dos and don’ts of campaigning.
All the main political parties in the State, including ruling Congress, main opposition Mizoram Democratic Alliance (MDA) led by Mizoram National Front (MNF) and BJP, have signed an agreement with MPF to abide by the dos and dont’s.
“We have the people’s support in taking up this cause of election watch. Guidelines have been laid to check any wrongdoings and avoid any kind of violence in the polls and to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections,” said MPF President Rev Lalramlian Pachuau.
Political parties campaign on joint platforms organised by the MPF, where all the contestants of an Assembly segment debate poll issues, development work and other matters, moderated by a MPF member.
People Assembled at these programs directly ask questions to contenders.
“We try our best to make total use of these joint platforms to single out poor development work and corruption of the present Congress regime. We try to expose the present State Government in these platforms,” senior MNF leader Biak Thansauga said.
The clout of the MPF can be gauged from the fact that in every council or village council area only three banners, thirty flags and 20 posters of a candidate is allowed for every party. Wall graffiti is prohibited.
Only a few street corner rallies can be witnessed across Mizoram. There are only a few big rallies such as the one by the Prime Minister or by heavyweight politicians.
MPF has banned door to door campaign by contenders in the last ten days before the polls to prevent voters being influenced in any manner.
Political parties are, however, distributing pamphlets door to door.
The oldest candidate contesting the election to the 40-member Mizoram Assembly to be held on November 25 was the present Revenue Minister J H Rothuama (74) from Champhai North seat while the youngest candidate was Pazawna (27) of the BJP contesting from Mizoram-Tripura border Hachhek seat.
According to the affidavits filed by the contesting candidates, the average age of the candidates of the three major parties - the Congress, Mizoram Democratic Alliance (MDA) and Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) was around 52.
The average age of the 40 Congress candidates was 54 with Chalrosanga (39) contesting from Lunglei West against the Mizo National Front senior leader and former minister Dr R Lalthangliana, being the youngest ruling party nominee.
The average age of opposition MDA, an alliance of the MNF, Mizoram People’s Conference (MPC) and Maraland Democratic Front (MDF), contesting 40 seats was 52 with two former ministers Tawnluia and R Tlanghmingthanga the oldest candidates at 70 years of age and the youngest candidate T C Kaphmingthanga at 34 years.
ZNP, contesting 38 seats, has an average age of 50 with the eldest candidate being 72 and the youngest being 35 years of age.
Political analysts said that the candidates in the Mizoram elections were younger as the popular mood was to have young and more dynamic leaders to rule the state.
Mizoram elections: Poling party leaves for Bru relief camps
Polling party numbering around 100 officials, including 74 desk and seven nodal officers, on Sunday left for the six relief camps in the state to conduct polling for the Bru voters lodged there.
Mizoram election department officials said that elaborate security arrangements were made for the polling officials as some members of the Mizo Students Union (MSU) reportedly were trying to obstruct the polling party from reaching the relief camps.
The Election Commission instructed the state election department to make arrangements for Bru voters in Tripura to exercise franchise through postal ballots in their respective camps on November 19 and 20.
Election to the 40-member Mizoram Assembly would be held on November 25 and the EC directed that arrangements should be made so that the Bru voters could cast their votes before November 25.
Mizoram-Tripura border Mamit District SP Rodingliana Chawngthu told PTI over phone that around 45 MSU activists went to the border village of Kanhmun to make efforts to stop the polling party.
Chawngthu said that he did not expect any problem as elaborate security arrangements were made to ensure the safe passage for the polling party.
The MSU leaders said that they did not object to the exercise of franchise by Bru voters, but opposed the casting of votes outside the state.
The Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath recently clarified that the Bru voters were allowed to exercise franchise following a High Court order in 1999.
There were 11,612 voters in the Bru relief camps belonging to three districts and spreading over nine assembly constituencies.
Mizoram CM Lal Thanhawla confident of 5th term ahead of polls
Kaushik Deka
Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla with his wife Lal Riliani.
Elections to the Mizoram Assembly are scheduled for November 25. In an exclusive interview with India Today, Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, who has ruled the state for four terms in the past, explains why he is confident of a fifth term.
Q: What's your prediction of the November 25 Assembly Election results? A: I believe we will win in those seats where we failed in 2008. Q. You had a thumping majority of 32 in the 40-member House in 2008. Do you mean to say you will go past 32? A. Yes.
Q.What makes you so confident? A.
Because we have delivered on our promises. Our flagship programme NLUP
has not only improved agricultural produce and farmer's condition but
also developed skill-sets and productivity of people in other sectors.
Thanks to a transparent system, the Rs.1
lakh disbursed under NLUP has reached the beneficiaries. Another big
success is the restarting of the 60 MW Tuirial Hydro Electric Project. Q.
But your opposition says only Congress workers are getting NLUP
benefits. And to woo votes benefits are extended to undeserving people.
Even a barber has been given Rs.1 lakh just to start a small shop. People are using the money to buy mobile phones? A.There
is a strong audit mechanism. Money is given over a period of a year in
three installments, based on performance and utilisation. And a barber
doesn't get Rs.1 lakh. I have now asked my officials to give them things in kind.
Q.
The youth of the state, in several opinion polls, have said that ZNP
chief Lalduhawma is the best suited to become the chief minister. What's
your reaction to that? A. Lalduhawma is a good orator and
the impressionable minds get carried away with his impossible promises.
But when it comes to voting, people choose the Congress.
Q. How would you want to woo the youth?
A.
I don't need to woo them with false promises. I have already delivered.
We have built three AstroTurf football ground, two AstroTurf hockey
grounds and two floodlit sports grounds. Two more are in the pipeline.
The number of educational scholarship holders is increasing and hundreds
of youths are getting skill development training. The world belongs to
the youth and my government's objective is to create opportunities for
them.
Q. The election mechanism in Mizoram is controlled by
the church. The Mizoram People's Forum, a Synod-regulated body, has
issued 27 codes of conduct. Why do you accept regulations from the
non-government body when there is the Election Commission, a
constitutional body, to hold elections? A. Because we want
free and fair polls. Mizo society is by nature very disciplined. And
the MPF codes don't come in conflict with EC guidelines. Q. There was a huge controversy over you sporting a tilak in Durga Puja in Kolkata. What's your comment? A. I don't want to comment on such a trivial issue. That shows the desperation of the Opposition. They don't really have an issue. Q. Why are you contesting from two constituencies? Are you not confident of your own victory? A. I
have won six times from Serchhip and don't doubt my victory this time
too. The local Congress members in Hrangturzo wanted me to contest from
there because Congress has failed to win from that constituency earlier.
P
