Retired Police Officer Lalbiakzama: Richest Congress Candidate From Mizoram Seat(Photo on Facebook ZORAM POLITICS GROUP)

Congress nominated former Mizoram police officer Lalbiakzama as the party”s candidate from Mizoram constituency, the state”s lone Lok Sabha seat. Retired as the State Home Secretary in 2020, the 64-year-old entered politics ahead of the 2023 state assembly elections.

Lalbiakzama was reported to be the richest Congress candidate in Mizoram with assets worth over Rs 3.84 crore among the total nominees from the lone seat of the state, according to his affidavit filed last month. He has no pending criminal cases against him.

After the Congress state chief Lal Thanzara announced his name from the constituency, Lalbiakzama said that he would do his best to ensure the welfare of the people if he was elected to power.  Lal Thanzara after announcing Lalbiakzama”s name said that the protection, preservation, and development of traditional Mizo culture and religion would be the party”s main focus during the election campaign.

Mizoram is a Scheduled Tribe (ST) constituency with 40 assembly segments. As a constituency where the Congress party has a good vote base, the grand old party”s C. L. Ruala had secured victory in the 2009 and 2014 general elections. In 2019, the regional player Mizo National Front (MNF)”s C. Lalrosanga wrested the seat from the Congress.

The Mizo National Front (MNF), ZPM and Congress are the main players for the seat. The BJP which has nominated Vanlalhmuaka had received a meagre 5 percent votes from the seat. The Zoram People”s Movement (ZPM) which is currently ruling the northeastern state, has emerged as an alternative to the MNF and has fielded its candidate Richard Vanlalhmangaiha for the first time in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Reportedly, the Congress leaders and the MNF have engaged in inconclusive discussions to fight together in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.