Congress names 36 candidates in first list for Mizoram polls

AIZAWL: The ruling Congress, facing opposition within the party over its choice of nominees, on Thursday named 36 candidates for the election to the 40-member assembly.
Over the course of the week, dissension within the party had surfaced over senior leaders being "sidelined" in favour of younger leaders. In the last assembly election, the average age of Congress candidates was 54. However, the average age of Congress candidates in the first list this time is 57, with four candidates younger than 40 and five older than 71. Most candidates (14) are between 51 and 60 years old.

Speculation was rife that 10 sitting legislators would be shown the door. The first list announced on Thursday did not include the names of seven Congress legislators - including minister R Romawia, who holds four portfolios in the present state cabinet, and deputy speaker R Larinawma. At the same time, the party has fielded 12 first-timers.

Congress also sidestepped the other bone of contention - its choice of former IGP LT Hrangchal to contest from Chalfilh instead of the MLA from the constituency H Ngurdingliana. On Wednesday, all 36 units of the party's committee under the constituency had registered their protest against the decision. Ngurdingliana will now contest the Kolasib seat - a move he expressed his unwillingness about.

The lone woman candidate in the first list is cooperation, sericulture and fisheries minister Vanlalawmpuii Chawngthu, who will contest the Hrangturzo seat.

Chief minister Lal Thanhawla will contest from his home turf, Serchhip, as well as the Champhai seat. JH Rothuama, who represents Champhai in the present assembly, has not found a place in the list.

Congress will announce candidates to the four remaining seats later. Two of them are Chakma-dominated seats - Tuichawng and West Tuipui - and two Mara-majority seats - Siaha and Palak. With the exception of Siaha, Congress holds the three other seats.

Congress could not name any candidate for Tuichawng after present legislator from the seat Buddha Dhan Chakma told the party committee he did not want to contest the seat. Similarly, assembly speaker Hiphei had been considered as a candidate from West Tuipui, which is represented by Congress legislator Nihar Kanti Chakma now, but it did not materialize. Hiphei represents the Palak constituency in the outgoing assembly.

"Nominees for the two Mara seats could not be finalized because the Mara Autonomous District Council had not submitted its suggestions," the Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee stated. Party sources said the committee had planned on fielding former minister S Hiato from Siaha seat, which he had contested and lost to MNF candidate K Beichhua last time, but did not arrive at any decision.