Mizoram: ZPM, HPC join forces for SHC polls

Aizawl: Ruling Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) and Hmar People's Convention (HPC) on Tuesday forged a pre-poll electoral alliance in view of Sinlung Hills Council (SHC) polls in Mizoram due in November. 

The pre-poll agreement was signed by ZPM president Lalliansawta and HPC president Rohringa during a press conference held at Aizawl Press Club here. 

As per the agreement, ZPM will contest 8 out of 12 seats in the upcoming SHC polls, while HPC will contest 4 seats, Lalliansawta said. 

Lalliansawta said that the two parties had tied up and worked together in three assembly constituencies in the last assembly polls held in 2023.

"When a pre-poll agreement was signed before the assembly polls in 2023, we also decided to work together in the SHC polls. After a series of negotiations and discussions to sort out our differences we finally agreed to join hands in the upcoming council polls and agreed on a seat-sharing arrangement," he said.

He said that the pre-poll alliance between ZPM and HPC has given new hope to the Hmar people, who have strong faith in the alliance in view of the upcoming council polls. 

Mizoram state election commissioner H. Lalthlangliana said that the schedule for elections to the SHC will be announced on Thursday. 

There are 23,789 voters, including 11,914 female voters in SHC, according to the final roll published on Monday. 

The SHC has 12 constituencies, comprising 31 villages in the Hmar-dominated northeastern part of Mizoram, covering three assembly constituencies in the Aizawl, Kolasib and Saitual districts.

In the last polls held on 5 November 2019, the Mizo National Front (MNF)-HPC combine bagged 10 seats, and the other two were won by independent candidates.

However, in the last five years, there has been a frequent change in the power dynamics in the council and the ZPM-HPC alliance is currently in power.

The SHC was established on July 9, 2018, as a result of the peace accord signed between the Mizoram government and the erstwhile underground Hmar People’s Convention (Democratic) or HPC(D) on April 2 that year.

The council has 12 elected members and two nominated seats. It is headed by a Chief Executive Member (CEM).