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Mizoram CM gives tickets to kith and kin, draws flak
Mizoram chief minister Lal Thanhawla is besieged by barbs for 'importing' the Congress’ dynastic politics against the tenets of local tribal culture. Rahul Karmakar reports.
Under fire from rivals for giving in to Hindu rituals, Mizoram chief minister Lal Thanhawla is now besieged by barbs for 'importing' the Congress’ dynastic politics against the tenets of local tribal culture.
The accusations have reached a crescendo with the day of polling, November 25, round the corner.
Mizos did not give much thought to the candidature of the chief minister’s younger brother Lal Thanzara from Aizawl North-III seat in 2008. Thanzara, seeking re-election from the same constituency, ended up as the “de facto deputy CM” — a term the Opposition has coined — handling almost everything Thanhawla would normally have done if he did not travel “300 days a year”.
Social media sites — offline Mizos too — began discussing the advent of dynastic politics after the Congress gave the ticket to Chalrosanga Ralte for the Lunglei West seat. Chalrosanga is the brother of Lalriliani, the chief minister’s wife.
Chalrosanga is also the younger brother of Mizoram’s sports minister Zodintluanga, who is hoping to represent the Thorang seat again. That Chalrosanga was not in the reckoning even a few months ago set tongues wagging.
If that weren’t enough, the Congress has retained Lt Col Zosangliana for the Aizawl South-II seat despite the “non-performer” tag. Zosangliana is the brother-in-law of Mizoram assembly speaker John Rotluangliana — party candidate for the Mamit seat as also of Lok Sabha member CL Ruala.
