Two Mizo parties float UDA ahead of state polls

Aizawl, Aug 5 (UNI) The Mizoram People's Conference (MPC) and Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) today officially floated the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ahead of the Assembly polls due this year end.

The Zoram Kuthnathawktu Pawl (ZKP), a farmers' association, is the mastermind behind the formation of the anti-incumbent electoral alliance.

Addressing a press conference here today with the leaders of the two parties, ZKP president Thanbanglova claimed, ''The ZKP has seen these two parties (MPC and ZNP) as the most farmer-friendly parties.

''Since the UDA will have the support of farmers who constitute 70 per cent of the state's population, we are almost sure that the UDA will win the elections,'' Mr Thanbanglova added.

Asked who will be the Chief Ministerial candidate of the UDA, the octogenarian MPC president and former Chief Minister T Sailo, referring to ZNP chief Lalduhoma, a former MP and former IPS officer, said, ''We have an energetic and young leader, who has never been a Chief Minister.'' Meanwhile, both Mr Sailo and Mr Lalduhoma claimed that the formation of the UDA had fulfilled the dream of majority of the people, who ''have had enough of the Congress and MNF Ministries but found no single party to replace them.'' Since 1984, the MNF and Congress have been ruling the state one after another.

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