Channel partners have high expectations post Mizoram polls

November 25 witnessed the North Eastern state of Mizoram casting their votes for a new government. The last 2008 assembly elections brought Congress to power in the this tribal and Christian dominated state bordered by Myanmar and Bangladesh on either side.

The tussle this year is between Congress and opposition coalition Mizoram Democratic Alliance (MDA). MDA comprises of three regional/ local parties- Mizo National Front (MNF), Mizoram People's Conference(MPC) and Maraland Democratic Front (MDF). The principal opposition party is MNF which was in power for 10 years till 2008 when Congress toppled MNF and came to power with 32 seats while MNF received only three.

The counting of ballots is scheduled to take place on December 9, 2013.While talking about the IT trade in the region to some of the partners; they said that the trade has been lying low the entire year as is the case with most other parts of the country. Lalhming Thanga, CEO, Sunflower Electronics without pronouncing his support for any party said that though Congress won with 90% majority in the last elections, this year the situation might be little different. "Congress might still be in power but the situation is shaky." Talking about his business, Thanga commented, "We do not have any other source of income in the state. We do not have many private companies here. Our only customers are government institutions. It is getting very difficult for us to generate profits out of our business as not many government projects are under way."

Most partners have firm faith in their expertise and experience. They do not think that they lack behind in any way when it comes to their technical knowledge. However, the government gives the North East states a poor rating when it comes to investing in infrastructure and developing projects. "We have experience of twenty years but government is not very cooperative. Even the schemes made by the center are such that they do not allow the local entrepreneurs to take part. In this way, many of our talents lose the opportunity and we lose business," added Thanga.

The expectation of the IT partners of the state is from the central government. They want to be given equal status like any other advanced Indian state and want the center to invest in projects and schemes involving the north east states.