Political parties, including the Congress, are accusing each other of planning to forge a pre or post-poll alliance with the BJP in Mizoram, which is seen as “anti-Christian”.

Observers said the parties were using this ploy to woo voters and win the hearts of the people, many of whom see the BJP as “anti-Christian” which is trying to dilute the culture, tradition and religion of the people. The BJP has denied the allegation.

In Mizoram, Christians constitute almost 90 per cent of the population, according to the 2011 census.

Mizoram chief electoral officer Ashish Kundra on Wednesday served a showcause notice to the Mizo National Front (MNF) after the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) filed a complaint against the party for allegedly distributing pamphlets to mislead the people. Stating it was a clear violation of Section 123 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, Kundra asked the MNF to clarify the matter within 24 hours.

The ZPM said the media, publicity and IT monitoring cell of the MNF had printed one lakh copies of pamphlets titled “ZPM leh BJP an thawkho dawn em?” (Will the ZPM and BJP work together?), depicting the photographs of ZPM’s chief ministerial candidate Lalduhoma alongside the lotus of the BJP.

The pamphlets also depict goddess Laxmi and Parvati and photograph of Congress president Rahul Gandhi performing sacred rites.

ZPM senior vice-president Kenneth Chawngliana said the MNF’s intends to develop a belief among the people that the ZPM had secret ties with the BJP, which, he said, was false. He accused the MNF of trying to mislead the people through the pamphlets which intend to convey the ZPM as trying to extend the Hindu rashtra concept by joining hands with the BJP.

On Tuesday, the ZPM also lodged an FIR at Aizawl police station in connection with the distribution of pamphlets.

Earlier, the Congress had alleged that the MNF was working hand-in-glove with the BJP for the polls. It alleged that the MNF, a member of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (Neda), would forge a pre or post-poll tie-up with the BJP.

The Congress also alleged that the ZPM, an electoral alliance of six parties, would be an easy prey to horse-trading by the BJP as its candidates are contesting the election as Independents. The MNF and the BJP, however, denied the charge.

The MNF had alleged that the Congress may join hands with the BJP after the polls like it had done in the Chakma council.