Mizoram poll: 3 reasons for Cong failure to break 10-yr jinx

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Liberal liquor policy, advent of the Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) and anti-incumbency factor were believed to be reasons due to which the Congress government in the Christian-majority Mizoram, the party's last bastion in the northeastern region, fell.

In the assembly election results declared Tuesday, the Congress failed to break the 10-year-jinx and came a poor third behind the Mizo National Front (MNF), which won 26 seats and the ZPM, which won 8 seats and is a new entrant in the state poll scenario.

The Congress managed to bag only five seats compared to the 34 it had won in the 2013 Assembly elections.

Chief minister-designate Zoramthanga of the MNF on Wednesday said the people might have rejected the Lal Thanhawla regime for its liberal policy towards liquor as against the expressed will of the churches.

He has already announced that his government would impose total prohibition.

Outgoing chief minister Lal Thanhawla said his party's electoral setback might be due to the opening of liquor shops in the state in 2015, after a spell of prohibition for 20 years.

Though he stopped short of accusing the churches of campaigning against his government and the Congress, Thanhawla said, "Campaigning from the pulpit should be prohibited."