Meet Lalthlamuani, first female candidate to contest lone Lok Sabha seat in Mizoram

Aizawl, April 8, 2019:

For the first time in the history of the parliamentary elections in Mizoram, a woman is all set to contest for the lone Lok Sabha seat in Mizoram.

The trendsetter is 63-year-old is Lalthlamuani, who belongs to the 20,000 strong Jewish community from the state and runs one of the three synagogues in the state. She will contest the Aizawl-West seat reserved for Scheduled Tribes as an independent candidate.

The grandmother of five also runs an NGO called Chhinlung Israel People Convention (CIPC), which comprises of Mizo Jews who believe they are one of the ‘ten lost tribes of Israel’.

Faith also plays a crucial role in her politics. I do not know how people would react, however, I will be happy with whatever God provides me, I believe God will provide me exactly what I need not more not less”, she said, while talking to shethepeople.tv.

It may be mentioned that Mizoram is one of the few states where female voters (402,408) outnumber men (381,991), but they do not have enough representation in legislative bodies. Fifteen women contested the Assembly elections in 2018, but none was able to secure a win.

Lalthlamuani’s nomination to the Lok Sabha can be seen as a major step towards leadership and empowerment in a state which is starved for women leaders. In fact, out of the twenty-five Lok Sabha seats in the North-East, only two are held by women (Sushmita Dev from Silchar and Bijoya Chakraborty from Guwahati).

The Mizo National Front (MNF), Congress and  Zoram People’s Movement’s (ZPM) are also in the fray for the lone seat in Mizoram and come across as stronger opponents. While MNF is fielding Lalrosanga, Congress and ZPM have jointly fielded Lalnghingolva Hmar and BJP have chosen Nirupam Chakma, a former Congress minister who joined the BJP.