Silchar, Dec. 11: The Mizoram People?s Conference (MPC)-Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) combine has ruled out the possibility of aligning with the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) even if it is offered a stake in the government. The statement follows reports about chief minister Zoramthanga toying with the idea of forming a coalition to lend stability to his government.
MPC president Lalhmingthanga said over phone last night from Aizawl that the priority of the combine was to consolidate the alliance and find a meeting ground with the Congress ?to stall further inroads by the MNF?.
Leaders of the MPC, ZNP and Congress went into a huddle early this week and decided to find a consensus candidate for the byelection to one of the seats that Zoramthanga has to vacate.
The chief minister was elected to the Assembly from both Champhai and Kolasib. He comfortably defeated PCC chief Lalthanhawla in Champhai, but barely scraped past his unheralded rival from the MPC in Kolasib.
The MNF is in a dilemma because it will lose its majority in the 40-member Assembly in the event of defeat in the bypoll.
Pollsters had predicted a hung Assembly, but the MNF managed a one-seat majority because votes were split among the three principal Opposition parties.
There was a difference of only 0.69 per cent between the votes won by the MNF and the combined share of the MPC-ZNP combine.
It is believed that the ruling party managed to swing the balance because the anti-MNF votes were shared by the two allies in the 17 constituencies where they both fielded candidates.
The MPC and the ZNP leadership had reached an understanding only for 23 seats, which is why they won only five seats.