Cong gets a blow in Mizoram ahead of polls

Senior Congress leader and former Mizoram home minister R. Lalzirliana joined the Opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) on Monday, giving a significant blow to the ruling party ahead of next month's Assembly election.

The 40-member Mizoram Assembly goes for polls on November 28.

Lalzirliana and another MLA had tendered their resignation from the Congress last month complaining that the ruling party did not fulfill its promise to declare Saitul area falling under Lalzirliana's constituency as a new district. Lalzirlians is a four-time MLA from Tawi constituency.

Congress leaders in the state agreed that Lalzirlian's exit ahead of the elections could give MNF significant mileage, as it is going all out to wrest power from Congress and deny Lal Thanhawla government the third term in power. MNF is part of Northeast Democratic Alliance, a forum floated by BJP comprising regional parties in the Northeast with a target to make the region Congress-mukt (Congress free).