Mizo Musicians Unhappy With MPF Diktat

Aizawl, Oct 22 : Mizoram People’s Forum (MPF), church-backed election watchdog has struck the wrong notes for musicians in Mizoram, who have traditionally made extra money campaigning for political parties or individuals.

The Mizo Zaimi Inzawmkhawm (MZI), a federation of Mizo singers and musicians, has slammed the no-music appeal to political parties by Mizoram People’s Forum (MPF), saying that singers act as crowd pullers and that it would deny them the opportunity to augment their income in these ‘troubled times’.

MZI leader Lalengmawia said the forum’s bid to remove entertainment from the polls was uncalled for.

“Singers are crowd pullers in music-mad Mizoram, and assembly polls come only once in five years,” he said.

Others said the MPF was trying to outdo the Election Commission in enforcing electoral discipline.

A spokesperson of the forum denied issuing any diktat but said it was to cut down noise and minimise election-related  expenditure by political parties.