PRISM out to create ripples in Mizoram poll scene

Guwahati: PRISM in Mizoram is a political party with an uncharacteristic name that is trying to cut its teeth in electoral politics in the Assembly election 2018.

After remaining a whistle-blower group for over a decade, People’s Representation for Identity and Status of Mizoram (PRISM) became a political party last year with a defined agenda to make the wrongs right. The party is contesting its maiden Assembly election this year with a hope to make an impact among the voters.

Headed by its president Vanlal Ruata, PRISM aspires to change the political system with support of the people. The party’s avowed primary agenda is to weed out corruption and take Mizoram ahead in the development path.

PRISM had set out as a group of RTI activists to bring about changes in the system way back in 2006. However, they converted PRISM to a political party as t was dawned of them that it was better to be the part of the system than remaining outside of it to bring about desired changes.

“We started as (RTI) activists eyeing a change in the system back in 2006. But we realized that our activism took us to a certain distance only, because when it came to taking action against the people charge sheet, the government had failed to take any action, time and again. So, we decided to form a political party last year to effectively carry forward what we have been doing so far,” the PRISM chief Ruata was quoted in media reports of late.

The party, it may be noted, had recently filed counter affidavits against 27 candidates, including incumbent chief minister, Lal Thanhawla, claiming that the candidates had provided “false affidavits” to the poll authorities.

Thirteen candidates from PRISM are contesting the Assembly elections, with Vanlal Ruata contesting from two constituencies, Serchhip and Aizawl North I.Te PRISM exudes confidence to win six to seven seats in the upcoming polls. The candidates of PRISM and its workers are going house to house and meeting people during the poll campaign. The political party expects that as the people have known their work since 2006, they will relate to the party as their representative.

PRISM in the meantime has made it clear that it has no intention to be part any alliance after the polls to rule the state. Rather it will prefer to seat in the opposition to keep the government on its toes.

Also read: Mizoram News