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BJP will form govt in Mizoram’s Mara district council, says state party chief
Three MNF members, who were part of the coalition government, have strayed from the MNF-Congress coalition and voted to overthrow the government during a session
A day after a six-month-old Mizo National Front (MNF)– Congress coalition government in Mara Autonomous District Council (MADC) in south Mizoram’s Siaha district was toppled, Mizoram BJP unit president Vanlalhmuaka said a BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government will be formed here.
On Saturday, Vanlalhmuaka said the BJP will stake a claim to form the NDA-led government or a complete BJP-led government in MADC if the three Mizo Nation Front (MNF) members, who strayed from the MNF-Congress coalition government, are willing to join BJP.
Two members from MNF are already set to join the BJP-MNF coalition government, he claimed.
“We are preparing for the NDA government in the Mara council. We may also form a government completely headed by BJP if the estranged members are willing to join our party,” Vanlalhmuaka said during a press conference here.
“We will stake a claim to form the next government in the council next week,” he said.
Also Read: MNF- Congress govt in MADC voted out in no-confidence motion
The MNF– Congress coalition government headed by H. Malvina of Congress as Chief Executive Member (CEM) was voted out in a no-confidence motion on Friday.
Three MNF members, who were part of the coalition government, have strayed from the MNF-Congress coalition and voted to overthrow the government during a session.
According to Vanlalhmuaka, seat or portfolio sharing is being discussed between the BJP and MNF members at the MADC headquarters in Siaha.
MNF headed by Zoramthanga, which is now in power in Mizoram, is an ally of the NDA government at the centre but the party does not align with the BJP in the state.
In the last MADC polls held in May, the BJP emerged as the single largest party winning 12 out of 25 seats, while the MNF won 9 seats and Congress bagged 4. No party won a majority.
After a political impasse for more than three weeks, Congress tied up with MNF and formed a coalition government on June 1.
Vanlalhmuaka said, initially, the BJP asked the MNF to form an NDA coalition government in the MADC but the party president and chief minister Zoramthanga declined the offer.
The BJP leader said the party did not offer any portfolio berths or money to the MNF members claiming they left the MNF-Congress coalition government on their own as they lost faith in the party leadership .
“We don’t offer anything. The MNF members left the coalition on their own. Initially, there were three but now two more members are willing to join the BJP-MNF coalition government,” Vanlalhmuaka claimed.
Despite repeated attempts, MNF leaders could not be contacted for comment.
Vanlalhmuaka also said that the BJP is making massive efforts to either form the BJP-led government or at least be part of the government in the state in the next assembly polls due next year.
“We will go solo and contest all the 40 assembly seats. However, we are ready to work with link-minded people, parties or groups barring Congress if they want to work with us,” said Vanlalhmuaka.
In the present 40-member assembly, the ruling MNF has 28 members, the opposition Zoram People’s Movement has seven, Congress has five and BJP has one legislator.
