Mizo National Front (MNF) leader and Lok Sabha candidate K Vanlalvena has said that the Centre’s announcement of fencing the border along Myanmar and suspending the Free Move Regime.

 He said that the MNF, which is the opposition in the assembly, as well as the ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), are against the moves.

Mizo National Front (MNF), which currently holds the seat, has fielded Vanlalvena this time from the only seat the state sends to the Parliament.

 Speaking to media, Vanlalvena said, “Recently, the Union government, especially the Ministry of Home Affairs issued some notice regarding the border fencing between India and Myanmar and also the removal of FMR (Free Movement Regime), these two things are the main issues during this election.”

 “During this Lok Sabha election, all the NGOs, all parties, even the ruling party and Opposition party. All of us have joined hands to oppose this construction of fence and FMR. This is the main issue in the state,” he added.

On being asked about the response party is getting on ground, the MNF leader said that it is like a ‘festival’ for the people and people are in favour of MNF. He added that he considers the ZPM candidate, Richard Vanlalhmangaiha is his main competitor in this election.

“It’s going well and it (Election) is just like a festival for the people of Mizoram. The atmosphere is very well and the people are in favour of us. Most of them want to cast their vote in favour of me…I think the ruling party candidate is our main opposition…the candidate is a new one in politics,” Vanlalvena added.

Earlier, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced for “immediate suspension of Free Movement Regime (FMR)” between India and Myanmar to ensure the internal security of the country and to maintain the demographic structure of India’s north-eastern states bordering Myanmar.

 In this regard, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also announced that the government has decided to construct a fence along the entire 1643-kilometre-long Indo-Myanmar border to facilitate better surveillance and ensure a patrol track along the border.

 In February, the Mizoram Assembly unanimously passed a resolution opposing the Centre’s decision to fence the India-Myanmar border and scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) with the neighbouring country.

Voting in Mizoram to elect one member to the 18th Lok Sabha in the upcoming elections will take place in the first phase on April 19. The result will be declared on June 4.

 Candidates of several major parties in the poll fray in the state, eyeing the sole LS seat; including Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) candidate Richard Vanlalhmangaiha, Bharatiya Janata Party’s Lalbiakzama and Mizoram People’s Conference (MPC), which has fielded Rita Malsawmi.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the MNF’s C Lalrosanga won the seat against the INC’s Lalnghinglova Hmar by a margin of 8140 votes.