A piece note on Mizoram Elections

                            A Piece of comments on Mizoram Assembly Elections-2018
             Dr. Suwalal Jangu, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Mizoram University
The first word that we use for election in Mizoram is 'most peaceful' but this is only very silent feature of polling process. This time around 75% turnout is almost 8% less than previous Assembly election's polling. The very reason of this 8% less turnout is slow process of VVPAT verification (at rate of 7-10 second per vote) of the vote even polling staffs were also acted slow because of the first time use of it in Mizoram. However it is very free, fair and fine election. These Assembly elections- 2018 is historical in Mizoram. No major complain of EVM error, therefore, this time doubts of Pu Zoramthanga have come over about the EVMs. He has been campaigning in his constituency for last one year because he had lost continuously two time. This time to become a political pundit  or psephologist on Mizoram Assembly elections is very challenging task.
The new regional forum in the name of Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) is formed by 7 political parties and groups again after UDA in 2008. It was the first time landing of ZPM from these elections, so we can not expect much landmark outcomes from it. The ZPM may win on two seats in Aizawl constituencies. These elections are historical because first time BJP is going to win 2-3 seats in Mizoram. These election are historical for one more reason that after 21 years, more than 25 thousand Bru-refugee voters from 6 relief camps came in Mizoram for casting their votes at a dozen of polling stations in Mamit and Kolasib districts. At one seat where around 8000 registered voters, among them 5000 were Bru-refugee voters...it is said that maximum votes of 5000 went to BJP's candidate. Election was also historical for one more reason that first time five senior leaders of Congress left the party and joined Mizo National Front- MNF and BJP... Mara Democratic Front was merged into BJP before one year of the election. These elections are the last election for the Chief Minister Pu Lalthanhawla as his age is 76.
Therefore, the main fight is between Congress and MNF. ZPM is having momentum presence only in a couple of seats in Aizawl due to its attraction among neutral and youth voters. So Congress depends upon voters of lower-middle class in rural and semi-urban areas because of the successful implementation of its most popular NLUP scheme. In my opinion I think the show-end of this turf will be as 50-50 between Congress and MNF. 15-17 and 17-19 seats to Congress and MNF respectively and 5 seats will be shared between BJP and ZPM. Both parties may play the role of Jack and King this time in the formation of govt. There has been working of a convention in Mizoram Assembly elections that people never given a fractured mandate and voted to any party more than two continued terms. But this time the convention may break because first time the two new players's parachute landing (BJP and ZPM) on election turf from the height.