The opposition Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) officially announced its candidates for the upcoming Mizoram Assembly elections, even though the Election Commission of India has not yet announced the poll dates.

The state assembly election is expected to be held in November or the first part of December.

ZPM plans to contest all 40 assembly constituencies, with its chief ministerial candidate Lalduhoma seeking re-election in his home turf of Serchhip.

Lalduhoma, a former Lok Sabha member and the first person to be disqualified under the Anti Defection Law in 1988, defeated Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla in the 2018 state assembly polls. Although he was disqualified by the assembly speaker in November 2020, he was re-elected with a higher margin in June 2021, defeating the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) candidate and a Congress candidate.

Notable candidates from ZPM include journalist-turned-politician and working chairman K. Sapdanga, popular footballer Jeje Lalpekhlua, former deputy speaker Vanlalhlana, former Vice Chairman of North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) Lalmuanpuia Punte, and popular singer Vanlalsailova.

Formed in 2017 by merging the Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP), Mizoram People’s Conference Party (MPC), and Zoram Exodus Movement (ZEM), ZPM secured 8 seats in the 2018 assembly polls, outperforming the ruling Congress party, which won only 5 seats.

However, ZPM lost 2 assembly seats in by-elections but retained one.

With strong anti-incumbency sentiments against the current MNF government and internal conflicts within the Congress, ZPM workers are hopeful of performing well in the upcoming assembly polls.

Nevertheless, the future of the loosely united ZPM will depend on its ability to unite its supporters in the months following the announcement of official candidates.