Mizoram, a model for polls

SY Quraishi
Ex-Chief Election Commissioner of India 

The Mizoram Assembly polls were conducted on November 28 after a prolonged controversy about the voting rights of the Brus. Total 209 candidates contested for 40 seats, including a record 16 women. The counting was done on Tuesday.

A clear anti-incumbency trend was predicted by most exit polls. The MNF gained a majority of 27 seats (21 were needed), followed by the incumbent INC (seven seats) and the BJP (one seat). Independents gained five seats and the PRISM got none. 

The issues important for the voters of Mizoram were the crumbling infrastructure, illegal immigration, women's problems and the prohibition of alcohol (which the INC eased in 2014 against the wishes of the local civil society and the Church).

The transition of Mizoram from a troubled violence-prone region to a model state for elections has been remarkable. Violence ensued in the region for almost two decades in the aftermath of the deep psychological wounds of the 1959 famine. After 20 years of alienation and separatism, words won over arms when the historic Mizo Accord was signed in 1986 between the MNF and the Centre, led by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. 

Since then, there has been no looking back. Mizoram has been a model for peaceful elections. This incredible achievement is the result of the efforts of the EC, the Mizoram Presbyterian Church and local groups. The majority Christian population (87 per cent) and the Church are responsible stakeholders in ensuring that elections aren't defiled by unethical conduct.

The Church signed an MoU with political parties in 2006 through the Mizo People's Forum and ever since, it has continued to work with the EC to ensure that elections are clean and peaceful. There are curbs on populism, uncontrolled expenditure and noisy gatherings. A good example of the success of the model is that the richest candidate in Mizoram campaigned on foot even though he has declared assets worth Rs 50 crore.

The compromise reached between the civil society groups and the EC for Bru voting was a mature handling of an explosive situation. Mizoram has been a shining example of peaceful elections with no abuse of money power. There are hardly any violations of the Model Code of Conduct. I wish the rest of India could learn something from this state which is a unique model of self-discipline. 

The other states must learn from Mizoram about the instrumentality of inclusive polls and consensus-building. Only then can the EC succeed in realising its vision of "No Voter to Be Left Behind".

Both the Congress and Mizo National Front fielded candidates for all 40 seats in Mizoram. The Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) and the Zoram Thar fielded 35 and 24, respectively. These candidates contested as Independents as no symbol was allotted to them by the EC. This led to a record number of 63 Independent candidates. Just three weeks before the date of polling, seven-time Congress legislator Hiphei resigned from his post as Assembly Speaker and joined the BJP, which fielded 39 candidates.