Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) working president K Sapdanga on Thursday said his party is firm on bringing ‘change’ by establishing a new system in the political arena of the state.
He said that the state has been rotationally under the Mizo National Front (MNF) and Congress for more than 30 years now but nothing has changed under their regimes.
“The new political system is all about new ideologies and principles, which are never seen during the MNF and Congress regimes. We would not follow the policy of ‘monetary distribution’ in the name of development like them (MNF and Congress),” Sapdanga said in Aizawl.
He alleged that the system of ‘distribution’ followed by both the MNF and Congress has only corrupted the mind of the people, which in turn affected the entire political system of the state.
It may be mentioned that the Congress during its 10 years rule between 2008 and 2018 had distributed financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh to eligible beneficiaries under its flagship programme New Land Use Policy (NLUP), which was later converged with New Economic Development Policy (NEDP).
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During election campaign in 2018, the MNF had also promised that it would provide financial assistance to the tune of Rs 3 lakh to eligible families under its flagship programme Socio-Economic Development Policy (SEDP).
However, the MNF after forming the government in December 2018, had said that the assistance would be disbursed on project-based but not “cash.”
Sapdanga said that his party would not use money under the pretext of development to woo voters.
The ZPM leader also exuded hope that his party will retain Tuirial seat.
“People have faith in ZPM. We will get many sympathy votes this time as well,” he said.
Meanwhile, ZPM leader Lalduhoma appealed to the people that they should vote the party in the upcoming by-poll to Tuirial assembly seat to bring the party’s policy to a reality.
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“No matter you belong to MNF or Congress, you can still help us to materialise our policy,” he said while addressing a rally in Kolasib town on Thursday.
He urged party workers to stick to the party policy and agenda of establishing a new political system in the state.
The by-poll to Tuirial seat, necessitated by the demise of incumbent MLA Andrew H. Thangliana in August, is scheduled to be held on October 30.
At least four candidates are in the fray for the bypoll.
The ruling MNF nominee K Laldawngliana is tipped against ZPM candidate Laltlanmawia, Congress’s Chalrosanga Ralte and K Laldinthara of BJP.
Counting of votes will be held on November 2.