Alliance with BJP stings Congress

An eight-month-long alliance with the BJP in an autonomous development council continue to sting the ruling Congress in Mizoram ahead of Rahul Gandhi’s rally on Tuesday.

The regional Mizo National Front (MNF) has launched a scathing attack against the Congress of having an understanding with ‘Hindu BJP’ as it had formed an alliance in Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) in April this year.

The MNF levelled the charge while countering Congress’ allegation that the BJP and the MNF are in a ‘secret understanding’ and would try to form an alliance government after the polls.

The Congress had joined hands with the BJP in the 20-member CADC after the election in April had thrown a fractured mandate. The Congress had won six seats and forged an alliance with BJP having five seats to form the council.

The MNF had won eight seats but did not go for the alliance with BJP despite being its partner in the North East Democratic Alliance, a forum of regional parties in the Northeast, floated by the saffron party to remove the Congress.

The Congress, however, walked out of the alliance on October 29 as its campaign focussed on the tagline that ‘Hindu BJP’ would not be accepted in the Christian-majority Mizoram.