Role of the Church in
Mizoram Polls
Role of the Church in Mizoram
Polls
Title: Role of the Church in Mizoram polls
Author: Jyoti Lal Chowdhury
Publication: Organiser
Date: Jan 10, 1999
When the BJP talks of Hindutva, it is communal. When the BJP talks
of Ram and the Ramayana, it is communal. But, when the Church and
the Bible take centre-stage of poll compaigning in Mizoram, it is
not only "political" but also "secular"! It is
not even "mixing religion with politics". In the
recently-concluded Assembly elections in this north-east State,
one was able to easily see posters with a single-line appeal
"vote for Christ".
The posters in question, which this correspondent came across in
Bilkhawthlir, Kolasib, Kawnpui and Aizawal constituencies he
visited, however did not bear the name of any political party.
But, it was a very subtle way to influence voters to cast their
votes in favour of those who were either pastors or clergymen in
Churches.
This correspondent has with him the names of 18 candidates who are
elderly Church-men and contested at the hustings on the tickets of
different political parties. S.T. Rualyapa, H. Killuaia, P.C.
Lalthanliana and Lalthengliana contested on Congress tickets.
Lalthanmawia, Andrew Laltherliana, V.L. Nithanga fought on
Citizens’ Common Front tickets, P.B Rosanga, C.B. Thangluta, R.
Vanengliana and Lalhmingthanga contested as Mizo People’s
Conference nominees. Sanghminthanga Pantu and Dr Lalzama entered
the poll fray for Mizo National Front. P.C. Thanglawta was in the
poll battle as an independent.
In order to know the views of Synod, the highest Church body, on
the role of religion in Mizoram polls, this correspondent talked
to a senior Church-man in his office at Aizawl who consented to
speak on condition of anonymity.
He did not see anything wrong in pastors and preachers contesting
elections. Rather, he said, "the Synod issues guidelines to
political parties to nominate persons of integrity and
character". He at the same time admitted that despite Church
playing crucial role in polls, all was not well.
Church guidelines were to the effect that political parties should
refrain from character assassination, personal vendetta and
ostentations. But how does one explain when Sunday Church services
on the eve of polls were suitably recast to recite from the Bible
before the electorate of the areas?
The Church-man admitted it, but denied, "The Sunday services
were meant to influence the voters in favour of any political
party."
When his attention was drawn to an official paper of Congress,
seeking the services of the St Paul Cathedral Church of Calcutta
in order to assist the local clergymen in the poll campaign for
the party, he said, "We have no connection with the Cathedral
Church." He also denied having any knowledge about Sonia
Gandhi using her Roman Catholic background to woo the voters in
Mizoram. But, both The Telegraph and The Asian Age reported about
the Congress High Command Sonia Gandhi playing "religious
card" in the campaign.
The Synod does play an important role during the elections. Among
the churches in Mizoram of 15 denominatons, the Presbyterian
Church is the strongest, having 51 per cent followers. next comes
in the Baptists, Pentecostal and others. Roman Catholics are very
few in number. It is the Church in Mizoram that decides the
electoral fate of a political party or candidate at the polls. Lal
Thanhawla, former Chief Minister of the State, is on record to
attribute his victory in the elections of 1989 and 1993 to the
Church.
Lal Thanhawla lost this time because the Church did not back him
and his party. MNF-MPC alliance won not because of the
"anti-incumbency factor" only but also because of the
very decisive role of the Church.
The BJP could not open its account this time too in Mizoram. It
lost Changte seat by 59 votes only. Of the 11 candidates in the
fray contesting on the BJP tickets, nine were Christians. Its
candidates heralded their poll campaign each day by reciting from
the Bible. Even then the party failed to prove its secular
credentials.
Reverend Thanga of the Synod was very laconic when he said,
"Church is open to all political parties. George Fernandes,
Union Defence Minister, met us". Message is clear: "To
use religious card is our prerogative because we are
Christians." Conclusion is still more clear: "You Hindus
cannot take that liberty because it is not the Christians, but
your own Mulayams and Laloos who brand you communal."
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