With the defeat of the Congress in Mizoram, the party is now in power in only one State in the region. The Congress will have to rethink about its strategy in the region, if the party wants to extend its spectacular electoral success in three mainland States in the North-Eastern region too. It may be mentioned here that at the beginning of this decade the Congress was in power in six states out of the seven states in the region.

Although the MNF and the MPC combine has managed to get two-thirds majority in the State Assembly, the coming days may not be that a smooth sailing for the coalition.

The first and foremost task in front of the new Mizoram Government is to arrest the aggravating north-south divide existing in the State. The final outcome of the Assembly elections is such that the MLAS elected from the southern constituencies will sit in the opposition benches, while the MLAs from the north, numbering 33, will rule. The only MLA from the northern part of the State who will sit in the opposition is Lalzirlima, who has won from the Saitual constituency.

According to political observers this fact could bode ill for the future well-being of the State, as all the southern MLAs also represent the various ethnic groups that belong to the minority communities. They further say that such a situation would really test the acumen of the new leadership of the State, who comes from a party that has mostly fuelled growing pride in being a Mizo, which is incidentally rejected by the communities living in the southern part of the State, who stress that they want to keep their sub-tribal identities intact.

Most insecure at present are the Chakmas who have long been targets of the anti-foreigner movements by the MNF. The MNF has, in fact, been saying that one of its jobs, if it comes to power, would be to dissolve the Chakma Autonomous District Council. Will the MNF really dissolve the district council, it is a question which only time can answer.

The Congress claimed to have taken care to give these minorities from the south a representation in the government, as ministers or chairmen in government undertakings. But, even if, the new coalition government wants to do the same, it cannot, because no MLA from the minority community belongs to the combine.

To get out of the situation, the MNF, it is learnt, has requested H. Rammawi to join them. Mr. Rammawi was an underground MNF activist in the past. Some feel that he may accept the offer as he was formerly with the MNF.