In a massive blow to the Congress in the Northeast, all the members of the Congress of Mara Autonomous District Council in the state of Mizoram have reportedly merged with the BJP. The decision which must have come as a massive jolt to the Rahul Gandhi led party, was taken by the Council at Siaha.
N Zakhai, chief executive member of the Mara Autonomous District Council, said that it was unanimously decided by the members of the Council in the meeting to dissolve the legislature party of the Congress. He added, “It has been resolved in the meeting that the Congress Legislature Party under the Mara Autonomous District Council (MADC) shall merge with the Bharatiya Janata Party Legislature Party.”
Zakhai also disclosed that the members signed a declaration stating that they accept the decision. Five members of the Council, who were out of station conveyed their acceptance of the decision over a telephonic conversation. Mizoram BJP unit president, JV Hluna said, “The Congress had approached the party seeking for a merger and the BJP agreed to it after consultation with central leaders of the party.” He also said, “As soon as the MNF formed government in the state, the Congress was very scared of over the MADC, so they contacted our district president, who in turn came to me.” The Mizoram BJP President made it clear that a BJP-led body would be formed in the Mara Autonomous Council. He said that there would be no coalition but fully a BJP district council.
Apart from being a massive blow for the Congress, this comes as a major shot in the arm for the BJP in the Northeast. The party which until not so long ago, was seen as a party confined pre-dominantly to North India without any significant presence in the eastern and north-eastern parts of India, has all of a sudden emerged as a major political power in the north-east. Zakahai also stated that the Congress Legislature Party decided to merge in the BJP after the Central government promised to amend the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India and give more autonomy and direct funding to the autonomous district councils. It is, therefore clear that the BJP is able to understand the aspirations of the Northeast, which is why it has been winning big in that part of the country over the recent past.
As far as Congress is concerned, this development only aggravates its existential crisis. The party has been miserable when it comes to electoral performance over the last five years or so, however, now the party is really breaking apart with sections of the party clearly disenchanted with the leadership. In absence of able leadership, the grand old party seems to be headed towards extinction on the Indian political scene. It is clear that the party is unable to keep an entire chunk in confidence leading to such a merger. Congress seems to be fast losing whatever popularity it still enjoyed in the Northeast even as the BJP is making massive inroads. There is no end to the troubles of the Congress and if things continue the way they are, it won’t take long for the BJP to achieve the goal of a Congress-Mukt Bharat.