Aizawl, Nov. 19: Speculation is fast crystallising among political observers in Mizoram on the eve of the state’s ninth Assembly election tomorrow on whether the BJP will be able to open its account this time.

Two BJP leaders from Goa, Union minister of state for finance Sripada Nayak and the party’s organising secretary for the Northeast V. Satish, who are in the midst of a hurricane campaign in the state, were confident that the party would bag the four seats of Chawngte, Tlabung, Lawngtlai and Phuldungsei.

Seasoned election watchers, however, dismissed these claims as “too tall”. According to them, the party might clinch one seat in south Mizoram where it has made substantial inroads during the past few years. They said it might be a toss-up between the Chawngte and Tlabung constituencies which are dominated by the minority Chakma tribals.

The party had made its electoral debut in this Christian state in the 1993 Assembly elections by fielding four candidates. In the last Assembly polls in 1998, the BJP had made a considerable splash by putting up 12 candidates. In Chawngte, party candidate A.B. Chakma had lost to his Congress rival Nirupam Chakma by just 529 votes.

The party’s strategy this time is to garner considerable support from the Chakma tribals who are mostly Buddhists. The Chakmas, who are largely concentrated in the Chawngte and Tlabung constituencies, do not enjoy a good equation with the mainstream Mizos.

Reang voters: Following directives from the Election Commission, the Tripura government has made arrangements to enable the Reang refugees staying in the state to vote in tomorrow’s Mizoram Assembly election.

Sources in the election department here said the Reang voters would cast ballots in 17 booths under two polling stations at Kawnmun and Tuipuibari in Mizoram, reports our special correspondent from Agartala.

A group of six deputy collector-level officials, led by North district magistrate B.K. Sau, has been assigned by the Tripura government to take care of the Reang voters who will head for their respective polling booths in Mizoram in 73 vehicles tomorrow morning.

The sources said six senior officials of the Mizoram government arrived at Kanchanpur this morning. The officials will accompany the Reang voters to the polling booths.

Security has been beefed up in areas around the six Reang refugee camps in Kanchanpur fearing untoward incidents.