The BJP has fielded two former MNF leaders among its candidates for the November 7 Assembly polls in Mizoram.

The Opposition party, which is looking to improve upon its tally of one MLA in a House of 40, announced the names of 21 candidates in two groups on Wednesday, four of whom are women.

The first group consisted 12 candidates and the second nine.

The candidates included former MNF leaders — Assembly Speaker Lalrinliana Sailo who was not renominated by the ruling party and former minister Dr K. Beichhua, who was expelled by the MNF for anti-party activities. While Sailo has been nominated from Mamit, Beichhua has been fielded from the Saiha constituency.

Though the MNF is a constituent of the BJP-led NDA and the NEDA, it has no truck with the BJP in the state. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had on Monday and Tuesday dubbed the MNF of being entry points of the BJP.

The ruling MNF and the Opposition Congress and Zoram People’s Movement are contesting all 40 seats.

Mizoram has a voter count of 8,51,895 of whom 4.38 are women.