There were no armed guards or political worker groups around the poll booths. The campaign did not include feasts and parties. Credit for this peaceful Assembly poll in Mizoram goes to Mizoram Peoples Forum, a social monitoring group initiated by the Church. MPF restricted political workers from thronging the poll booths with party signs and arranged refreshments, benches for voters who would otherwise be standing in queue for hours.

This was the fourth Assembly elections in Mizoram after it attained statehood in 1987. Congress had won 20 of the 30 Assembly seats in 1984 when Mizoram was still a union territory and Lalthanhawla became the chief minister. Lathanhawla quit as a sequel to the Mizo Peace Accord between Mizo National Front and the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The Congress and the MNF divided power between them.

In 1989 Congress won the Assembly polls. Five years later Congress recaptured power but as a partner of Brigadier T Sailo led Mizo Janata Dal. Congress was defeated in 1998 by Zoramthanga led MNF and its ally Mizoram Peoples Conference. The MNF-MPC alliance won again in 2003.

Three key contenders in the last Mizoram polls were MNF led by Zoramthanga, Lathanhawla led Congress and Brigadier T Sailo led United Democratic Alliance, formed in March 2008 by Mizo Peoples Conference, Zoram Nationalist Party and Zoram Kuthrathaku Paul. Besides, BJP and Lok Janata Party were also in the scene.

Ten women contestants among the 206 fighting for 40 seats was a significant feat in the state with no woman MLA. The state’s two major women’s organizations came out in their support.

The poll campaign was dominated by the issue of development. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, in his poll address in Mizoram, lamented rampant corruption in the state and criticized the MNF. He wondered how the central grant of Rs 125 crore was used to tackle the situation arising out of bamboo flowering. Though MNF was flayed for this, there is no denying that corruption prevailed even during Congress tenures. All the north eastern states are responsible for total misuse of central grants for development. These states have seen the emergence of a fortunate class who siphon off the central funds for personal benefit. All the political parties, including Congress, are party to this colossal malpractice. Just a look at the declared assets of political leaders:

• Former Assembly speaker R Lalwia: Rs 61. 82 crore
• Former CM Lalthanhawla: Rs 2.22 crore
• CM Zoramthanga: Rs 1.46 crore
• Former Cm Brig T Sailo: Rs 31 lakhs

Apprehension of famine has been a serious issue in a Mizoram, more particularly for politicians. It is the famine outbreak that led to Laldenga’s insurgency in 1966. Mizoram has suffered from famine every 50 years when bamboo groves flower. Rats eat these flowers and multiply at a tremendous rate and eat paddy. Such a famine broke out in 1959 and the people resented the Centre’s poor compensation, ending in Laldenga’s armed revolt under the banner of Mizo National Famine Front, which later became Mizo National Front. MNF spearheaded an armed struggle against the government of India for a considerably long period.

MNF countered the charge of corruption against them with the issue of women’s empowerment. MNF plans to reverse a traditional Mizo Act that denies a divorced woman’s right over her children and former husband’s property.

The third contestant in the fray, Brig Sailo’s UDA cannot be dismissed outright. 86 year old Brig Sailo fought the Japanese in the WWII, retired from the Army in 1971 after the Bangladesh war and became the second chief minister of Mizoram. Constituents in Sailo led alliance include a formidable farmers’ party.

With a commanding literacy rate of 89 per cent Mizoram is a peaceful state in the disturbed north east. Mizoram was granted a peace bonus of Rs 242.16 crore in 1999. The 2003 polls passed off peacefully and then Chief Election Commissioner J M Lygdoh was hopeful that Mizoram would be an example for others.