Image Building, not Winning, Important for BJP in Mizoram: Himanta Biswa 

Guwahati: The Convenor of North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) and senior BJP leader from Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma, said that fielding candidates in almost all the constituencies for the Mizoram election scheduled for November 28 is of the top-most priority of the party this time.

Stating that the party members are trying their best to strengthen the party’s base in the state, Sarma who is BJP's one of the key strategists for Mizoram Assembly election, said, “BJP is not a very big party in Mizoram. I think there is major competition between Congress and Mizo National Front (MNF). We are trying to build our image. More than forming a government, we are focusing on consolidating the BJP's presence (in the state). Our first priority is we should have candidates all over the state."

A total of 209 candidates are in the fray in Mizoram elections. The ruling Congress party and the MNF are contesting in all the 40 constituencies while the BJP has fielded candidates in 39 constituencies.

Noteworthy that the BJP has never won a seat in Assembly elections in Mizoram till date. The state with a population of about 10 lakh, including nearly 7.68 lakh voters, is seen by the party as the "final frontier" in the Northeast as it is in power in all other states of the region -- either by winning polls itself or aligning with regional parties.

Stressing that the BJP is keeping all options open, Sarma, who is also the BJP's in charge for Mizoram elections, said, while Congress remains a rival, the party could explore post-polls options with chief minister Lal Thanhawla.

“Mizoram Congress has a different constitution. They are different from the Delhi Congress. For the first time, we have fielded 40 candidates in the state. Lal Thanhawla can take independent decisions,” Sarma added.

However, Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla said that the BJP's claim that they could partner him in a post-poll alliance, effectively putting Congress in deep water, was "far-fetched". Claiming that he is going to "break the jinx", the 76-year-old Congress leader said he will create history by becoming the first Chief Minister to come back to power for three consecutive terms in the state.

On the otherhand, MNF who is the second largest party in the state after Congress with 5 seats in the Mizoram Assembly had earlier denied of having any pre- poll or post- poll coalition with the BJP in the state's Assembly election slated for November 28.

Also Read: Narendra Modi Addresses a Rally in Poll-bound Mizoram; Slams Congress for Exploiting the Poor