Newmai News Network Aizawl | October 14 After releasing names of 36 out of 40 candidates, the ruling Congress has been facing problems in selecting candidates in three autonomous district council areas for the 40-member state Assembly elections due to pressure from civil society organizations and internal differences. Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president and chief minister Lal Thanhawla had on October 11 announced the names of 36 candidates, dropping 8 sitting MLAs and fielding 12 new faces. Names of candidates for four constituencies namely, West Tuipui, Tuichawng, Siaha and Palak in three autonomous district council areas are yet to be announced. The liberty of selecting candidates in these constituencies was given to respective district committees. Sources from the Congress Bhavan said that the party could not finalise candidates in Tuichawng and and West Tuipui in Chakma council and in Lai area due to an appeals from NGO Co-Ordination Committee, a conglomerate of major civil society organizations that no candidate belonging to Chakma community should be fielded this time. Earlier, the NGO Co-Ordination Committee had appealed to all the political parties that no Chakma candidates should be fielded for the upcoming assembly polls citing the Chakma, who are branded as "foreigners", have no political right to contest elections". Though the Congress did not have problem in fielding candidates in Tuichawng and West Tuipui, it gave "respect" to the NGO Co-Ordination Committee decision, a senior Congress leader said. The Lai Autonomous District Congress Committee has submitted two names. Meanwhile, Mara Autonomous District Congress Committee (MADCC) has asked state Congress president Lal Thanhawla to make decision based on the recommendation made by the MADCC nomination board.
