Mizoram: Senior Congress leader Hiphei turns rebel, joins BJP

Mizoram Legislative Assembly Speaker and senior Congress leader Hiphei on Monday turned out to be a rebel as he resigned from his post and quit the Congress party too. He joined the BJP.

Hiphei, in his letter of resignation, did not mention his reasons for quitting. “After I tender my resignation from the Congress party, I will join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP),” he said.

It is to be noted that the resignation from Hiphei comes after he wasn’t named as a candidate in the upcoming assembly elections.

A veteran Congress leader from Siaha, Hiphei was elected MLA from Palak constituency in the 2013 Mizoram State Assembly election. He also served as Rajya Sabha MP for two terms (1990 – 1996, 1996 to 2002).

Having served two consecutive terms, Hiphei was expected to contest the polls from Palak constituency, but a political difference in the Mara Autonomous District Council (MADC) areas prompted Mizoram Congress to field KT Rokhaw as their candidate, snubbing Hiphei.

With Mizoram BJP yet to announce its candidate for Palak constituency, it appears that Hiphei is likely to contest from his constituency with a BJP ticket. Mizoram will go to polls on November 28 with results scheduled to be announced on December 11.

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