Mizoram home minister faces backlash over intimidating voting comments

The Mizo National Youth Front (MNYF) and the Mizoram Pradesh Youth Congress Committee (MPYCC) on Monday demanded that the Home Minister K. Sapdanga apologise for his demoralizing and intimidating comments against the residents of Aizawl’s Edenthar Basic Services to the Urban Poor (BSUP); which is a locality under his constituency of Aizawl North III.

A screenshot of a WhatsApp group message of Edenthar ZPM Group where Home Minister K. Sapdanga (Mobile - 9436140430) has gone viral on social media over the weekend, where the Minister has written that for the upcoming Aizawl Municipal Corporation (AMC) Ward-VI, By-Election Dr. Thangtea (Dr. R. Lalthangliana) of MNF and Chuaungova (Mr. Lalnunmawia Chuaungo) of Congress have regularly visited the BSUP during their campaign for the By-election. The Home Minister then continued writing to the party members to inform the residents on the last day of the campaign, “We are going to know where you cast your vote, and we will watch who deserves to continue occupying the BSUP.”

He also added in the message, “We should ask the residents whether they want to be under the ruling party or the opposition.”

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The joint statement of the youths of MNF and Congress stated that the Home Minister’s message is condescending and that it violates the Model Code of Conduct and Representation of Peoples Act,1951 as the message is an intimidation towards the residents of Edenthar BSUP.

They also stated that the BSUP is located at four of Aizawl’s localities viz. Edenthar, Rangvamual, Lawipu, and Durtlang were constructed during the Congress government and deserving people were made to reside in it, and the same system was continued during the MNF government. They highlighted that such intimidation of residents before an election has never occurred, and they stated that the Home Minister’s viral message showed his utter disrespect of the voters of his constituency and of AMC Ward-VI.

It is worth noting that Aizawl Municipal Corporation (AMC) Ward-VI, By-Election will take place on August 22, 2024. The Zoram People’s Movement and the Bharatiya Janata Party have fielded a candidate each while the Mizo National Front and the Congress have decided to support a common candidate.