ZPM got money from BJP before Mizoram polls, says MNF chief Zoramthanga

Aizawl: Mizoram’s main opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) president Zoramthanga has accused the ruling Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) of making a secret pack with the BJP to be part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Zoramthanga’s accusation came amid a claim by ZPM that it will not tie up with any alliance at the centre and will remain independent as a regional party.

Addressing a rally in Saitual town in the northeastern part of the state on Tuesday, Zoramthanga alleged that ZPM leader and chief minister Lalduhoma had approached his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswas Sarma before the Mizoram assembly polls last year so that the ZPM could become part of the NDA.

He further alleged that the ZPM headed by Lalliansawta apparently received assistance from the BJP before the state assembly polls.

“The ZPM suddenly got more money in its hand just before the assembly polls because it has sold itself to the BJP,” the former rebel leader turned politician said.

The former Mizoram chief minister said that the ZPM wanted the MNF to sever ties with NDA to pave the way for it to be part of the alliance.

Zoramthanga claimed that his party has constantly opposed the NDA government on issues affecting the interest of minorities and Mizoram despite being part of the alliance.

“The NDA sees the MNF as a nuisance because we often oppose it from within on issues affecting Mizoram. Unlike MNF, the ZPM wouldn’t be able to oppose the NDA, ” the 79-year-old Mizo leader said.

Zoramthanga said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah stopped pushing him to withdraw Mizoram police from the border areas during the dispute with Assam when he warned that he would resign as the chief minister.

He further said that Mizoram was exempted under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) due to strong opposition from the MNF government, which had also adopted a resolution opposing the introduction of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the country.

Earlier, Chief Minister Lalduhoma had said that his party opted to remain independent and free from control of any alliance at the Centre.

He had said that a regional party can’t articulate its view and take independent decisions on any important issue as long as it aligned with either of the two blocs (NDA or INDIA) at the Centre. 

Lalduhoma, however, had said that his government would work cordially with any government that came to power at the Centre.