Chana sect members free to vote anyone sans diktat from leader

For long Mizoram political parties have tried to persuade members of the Chana's sect led by Ziona to vote en bloc for them, but without success, in their village in the Tuikum assembly seat in Serchhip district.
C. Lalrinthanga, a well-known figure of the sect, said that Baktawng Tlangnuam village with a population of 3,000 is like any other Mizo village where all the political parties, excluding the BJP have units.
"There are political party units like the Congress, the Mizo National Front, the Mizoram People's Conference and the Zoram Nationalist Party and members of the sect can support any of the political parties," Lalrinthanga said.

He said that Ziona has never asked his followers to support a particular party or candidate in the elections.
"Everyone is free to choose his own party and support any candidate," he said.
Lalrinthanga said that there has never been any diktat from the leader of the Chanas, Ziona, known as the 'Hotupa'.

Party units in Baktawng Tlangnuam village have been canvassing for different political parties like any other in the rest of the state.
Lalrinthanga said no candidate or political party has succeeded in persuading Ziona to make villagers vote en bloc for them and the voters of the village continued to exercise their franchise freely and without fear or particular favour.

There are two polling stations in the village and the total number of votes is 1,136 as per the last voters' lists published on August 16.
The ruling Congress has pitted the sitting legislator K. Lianzuala against Lalrinawma of the opposition Mizo National Front.