Seventeen leaders of the BJP’s Mizoram unit, including its former president Khawvelthanga Ralte, quit on Thursday, calling the Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre “fake” and “hopeless”.

The mass resignation was announced by former media chairman of the state BJP, Lalrozara, at a news conference here. He said they were disappointed with the BJP government for making many false promises. He said they had joined the BJP with a hope to establish a good government at the Centre and in Mizoram.

“Our hopes were shattered when we discovered the BJP was anti-democratic and fascist that dictates term without paying heed to our voices,” Lalrozara said.

He alleged that the country was facing its “worst economic crisis and the “darkest period” during the NDA rule, like it had been in the 1990s during former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar’s regime.

Though Modi had promised to generate employment, the country faces its worst unemployment problem in 47 years, Lalrozara added.

He alleged that the government had failed in maintaining national security. “Although the government claimed it had killed 250-300 terrorists in response to the Pulwama attack, it could not produce evidence but instead branded those people who sought evidence as anti-national. If the whole world was against terrorism, why was India not being congratulated by other nations if it really killed 300 terrorists? The Modi government only made false statements. It is a fake government,” he said.

Lalrozara said the BJP was firm on introducing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019. “We strongly oppose the citizenship bill because the inner-line permit, which protected Mizos from outsiders, would be meaningless if the bill is enacted,” he said.

Lalrozara said they were not happy with the BJP’s central leadership for nominating a Chakma candidate to represent “indigenous Mizos”. “As the Lok Sabha is a house of the people, a Mizo candidate should be nominated to represent the state since they are in majority in Mizoram,” he said.

Lalrozara, however, denied any internal squabbles within the state unit. He said they were yet to decide which party they would join.

State BJP president J.V. Hluna could not be contacted.

A BJP leader alleged the central leadership had told the state unit not to contest the Assembly byelection in Aizawl West-I seat owing to misappropriation of funds during the state polls held in November last year.

The mass resignation of BJP leaders is likely to have an impact on its prospects as it has no strong base in the state.

On the other hand, it is likely to boost the ruling Mizo National Front because many of the leaders who resigned may join the regional party along with workers, sources said.

The BJP had opened its account in Mizoram after winning the Chakma-dominated Tuichawn seat in the Assembly elections last year.

The party had contested in 39 seats and got a vote share of eight per cent.