Battle lines have been drawn with all major political parties in Mizoram announcing their candidates for the first election to the 11-seat Lunglei Municipal Council, scheduled for March 29.

After Congress named their candidates on Wednesday, Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), BJP and ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) released the names of their candidates on Thursday.

All the parties are contesting all the 11 seats of which four are reserved for women while no one has filed nomination papers till 3 pm on Thursday even as the last day for filing nomination is Friday till 3 PM.

Announcing the candidates, state Congress president Lalsawta said his party was in favour of decentralisation of power and blamed the ruling MNF headed by Chief Minister Zoramthanga for allegedly centralising power in Aizawl.

He urged the candidates to work for the development of Lunglei, the second-largest town in the state after Aizawl.

State BJP vice president R Vanramchhuanga, who announced the saffron party’s candidates, urged the people of Lunglei to vote for BJP to have efficient and transparent government.

The BJP promised that if the party is elected to power, Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri will be immediately invited to visit Lunglei to discuss development plan with the elected councillors.

MNF vice president and Lalthlengliana released the names of the ruling party’s candidates during a function at Lunglei on Thursday.

Earlier, state health minister Dr. R Lalthangliana had tendered apology to the people of Lungleitown over delayed development projects which he said were due to the Covid-19 pandemic which hit the world for more than two years.

“Despite the pandemic, we have managed to make some achievements like installation of 28 ICU beds at Lunglei civil hospital, trauma centre and integrated multipurpose laboratory among others,” Lalthangliana said.

He encouraged MNF candidates to be resilient against attacks that will come from every corner.

“You should not be worried because MNF is a big organisation, rigid and lasting, which has withstood a test of time,” Lalthangliana said.

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K. Sapdanga, working president of ZPM, who announced the names of the party candidates, felt that they have “the best candidates” therefore was optimistic of winning.

His party, if elected, would wage war on corruption.

“If judiciously spent, funds received from the central government are sufficient to make major progress in all the sector,” Sapdanga said.