Aizawl, Dec 1 : In a noteworthy display of transparency and commitment to ethical politics, the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), a prominent regional party in Mizoram, has returned surplus campaign funds to its candidates and contributors following the November 7 polls.
Established six years ago, ZPM has swiftly risen to become a significant third force, challenging the long-standing bipolar politics dominated by the Congress and Mizo National Front since Mizoram gained statehood in 1987.
On November 27, the Chanmari and Hunthar units of ZPM returned Rs 7,000 and Rs 59,000 to K Sapdanga, the party’s candidate for the Aizawl North III assembly constituency. Both Chanmari and Hunthar are localities in Aizawl, the state’s capital, falling within the constituency. Mizoram has a 40-member House.
ZPM’s working president, K Sapdanga, emphasised that their party’s initiative not only sets a precedent but also “revives a cultural practice of the Mizo people lost during the reigns of the Mizo National Front (MNF) and Congress.” Sapdanga revealed that several party units in rural areas have also returned excess campaign funds to their respective candidates.
Since its inception in 2017, a year before the 2018 elections, ZPM has championed the concept of Kalphung Thar, translating into a new system.
Sapdanga explained, “When we talk about Kalphung Thar, it is not only a new system of governance. We started right from campaigning, abstaining from the influence of money during the electoral process.”
The majority of the candidates’ expenditures, he said, were raised through public donations, illustrating the party’s “commitment to minimising the impact of financial power in politics.”
Formed through the merger of several regional parties, ZPM secured the position of the second-largest party in the 40-member House, winning eight seats, with all its MLAs contesting as independents in 2018.
Considered the strongest contender against the ruling MNF in the recent single-phase Assembly elections held on November 7, ZPM’s commitment to ethical campaigning and financial transparency marks a significant departure from conventional political practices.
The counting of votes is scheduled for December 4.