Aizawl, Oct 12: Lalrinliana Sailo, a prominent figure in Mizoram’s political landscape, made waves when he announced his resignation from the Mizoram Legislative Assembly, as well as his role as the speaker. This decision was accompanied by his departure from the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), creating ripples in the state’s political landscape.
In a recent address to BJP party workers at ‘Atal Bhavan,’ the BJP’s state unit office in Aizawl, Sailo made a series of significant claims and predictions regarding the upcoming state legislative elections scheduled for November 7.
Sailo’s statement was nothing short of a political bombshell. He asserted that the BJP, while unlikely to secure an absolute majority on its own, would play a pivotal role in forming the next government in Mizoram. The state’s political landscape has traditionally been dominated by regional parties, but Sailo’s defection to the BJP signals a potential shift in the political dynamics of Mizoram.
Sailo predicted that the BJP, which secured only one seat in the 2018 state assembly elections, would now secure between 5 to 8 seats out of the 40-member state assembly. This projection hints at the growing influence of the BJP in a state where it was once a marginal player. The upcoming elections will be a litmus test for this assertion.
One of the primary issues Sailo highlighted was the dire state of Mizoram’s finances. He emphasized that the state’s financial situation was on the brink of a severe crisis and urgently required strong financial assistance and a bailout from the central government. In this context, Sailo stressed that his decision to join the BJP was driven by a deep concern for the state’s welfare and the well-being of its people.
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Sailo expressed his confidence in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), asserting that it would continue to govern the country for an extended period. This reflects his belief in the BJP’s sustained influence at the national level, which he considers beneficial for Mizoram. His association with the BJP, in his view, serves the interests of the state and its citizens.
While Sailo’s decision to switch allegiances raised eyebrows, he didn’t refrain from leveling strong accusations against his former party, the MNF. He alleged that the MNF, despite its opposition to the BJP in state politics, maintained a close alliance with the NDA at the center. Sailo also pointed out that central government schemes were poorly executed in Mizoram, raising concerns about the equitable distribution of resources and benefits in the state.
Sailo’s move to the BJP marks a significant development in the run-up to the forthcoming assembly elections. He is not the only legislator to resign in the lead-up to the polls, as several others have also made similar decisions. Five independent MLAs resigned en masse to contest under the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) banner. Additionally, Congress MLA K.T. Rokhaw resigned as a legislator and joined the MNF to contest from the same constituency on the MNF ticket, adding to the political volatility in the state.
Lalrinliana Sailo’s political journey has been marked by twists and turns. He has been elected to the State Assembly four times, with three victories on the Congress ticket and one on the MNF ticket. His electoral journey started in 2003 when he was consecutively elected three times from the Tuichang constituency. However, he was appointed as a minister when Congress returned to power in 2008, only to be removed from his ministerial position during the second term of the Congress government from 2013.
In the run-up to the 2018 elections, Sailo switched sides to the Mizo National Front and successfully secured the Chalfilh seat. His departure from the MNF is believed to have been triggered by a speech he delivered in the United States, expressing his desire to join the BJP. This speech appears to have sowed the seeds of discord between him and the MNF leadership.
