Mizoram Polls: From Jobs To Manipur Violence, 5 Major Issues This Elections

Mizoram has been either ruled by the Congress or the Mizo National Front since its formation as a separate state in 1987 following years of insurgency. However, the political landscape in this northeastern state is being threatened due to the emergence of a new political force, the Zoram People's Movement, which upset many calculations during key civic body polls earlier this year.

The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), led by Zoramthanga, is seeking a consecutive term in the upcoming 2023 assembly polls. The MNF has governed for three terms since Mizoram attained statehood after the signing of the Mizo peace accord by the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Its primary rival, the Congress, has held power for four terms.

The voting for all 40 assembly seats in Mizoram is scheduled to take place on November 7. As the state will vote in less than a week, let's take a look at key issues in this election:

Jobs
The opposition parties have targeted the government for its failure to generate employment opportunities over the past five years.

According to the central government's Periodic Labour Force Survey conducted between July 2022 and June 2023, Mizoram has a youth unemployment rate of 11.9 per cent, surpassing the national average. Among men, the youth unemployment rate stands at 8.9 per cent, while it is notably higher at 16.4 per cent among women.

Drugs Issue
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi highlighted the prevalent issue of drug abuse in Mizoram, pointing out the loss of 259 young lives. Even the MNF's ally the BJP has promised a drug-free Mizoram if voted to power in the landlocked state.

As reported by the state's Excise and Narcotics Department, drug-related incidents claimed the lives of 1,794 individuals since 1984. The current year's statistic shows that 58 fatalities are attributed to drug-related causes.

Manipur violence
The recent violence in Manipur is expected to have a ripple effect on the Mizoram elections due to an influx of approximately 13,000 individuals seeking refuge from Manipur after the May unrest.

Reportedly, Mizoram CM Zoramthanga has refused to share the stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the assembly election campaigns in the state.

Border Dispute
Another key issue in the poll is the ongoing border dispute between Assam and Mizoram. The violent clashes that occurred at the Assam-Mizoram border in 2021 resulted in casualties, and efforts to reach a resolution through negotiations have proven unsuccessful.

Refugee Influx
Zoramthanga's handling of the refugee crisis has emerged as a prominent electoral issue, with both the Congress and ZPM accusing the state government of incompetence.

Notably, his administration had refused to gather biometric information from Myanmar refugees, citing humanitarian reasons and expressing apprehension that the Centre might use the data to push out the refugees. The Kukis from Manipur share ethnic connections with Mizos in Mizoram.

The northeastern state has around 72,000 refugees - 12,600 Kukis from neighbouring Manipur and about 60,000 from Myanmar.