Aizawl: BJP legislator K Hrahmo has come down heavily on Mizoram’s ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) for choosing to extend only issue-based support to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre, instead of formally joining the coalition. Speaking at the party’s weekly political session in Aizawl, Hrahmo claimed this political decision has deepened the state’s financial woes and weakened its access to Central benefits.
“When the BJP and its allies were forming the government at the Centre, Mizoram was also invited to be a part of it. But our current government merely offered issue-based support,” Hrahmo said, adding that this decision cost Mizoram the opportunity to secure a Union ministerial berth—especially significant for a Christian-majority state that could have leveraged stronger representation in national policymaking.
He questioned the logic behind ZPM’s approach, asking, “The state claims to support the Centre on issues. But does the Centre support Mizoram in return?” According to Hrahmo, full participation in the NDA government would have allowed Mizoram to gain from people-centric programmes and receive greater support for the Christian community and missionary activities.
Despite acknowledging the BJP’s limited popularity in the state, Hrahmo noted a visible shift in public sentiment. He revealed that 228 residents from Aizawl city joined the party on Monday. “People are no longer afraid to join us,” he remarked, asserting that growing dissatisfaction with the state government’s political choices and governance is slowly turning the tide.
Hrahmo also expressed support for raising the MLA Local Area Development (MLALAD) fund from ₹1.5 crore to ₹5 crore. However, he stressed the importance of ensuring the funds are not concentrated among a few beneficiaries, but instead distributed for the holistic development of entire constituencies.
Joining Hrahmo at the session was P.C. Lawmkunga, former Chief Secretary of Manipur, who praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and forecasted that India was well on its way to becoming one of the world’s top two developed nations by 2047. He pointed out that Mizoram is already experiencing benefits from infrastructure development such as improved highways and expanding railway connectivity.
However, Lawmkunga also issued a cautionary note, stating that poor planning and delays in submitting utilisation certificates have blocked the timely release of Central funds. “Those who ridicule or oppose these changes fail to see how essential it is for us to mentally prepare for the transformation,” he added, urging the state to align its vision with the national development roadmap.
The remarks reflect the BJP’s increasing pressure on regional governments like the ZPM to forge formal political alignments with the Centre, especially in states where the ruling party maintains a cautious distance from the NDA despite ideological proximity on select issues.