Five states will go to the polls in 2023-24 ahead of the general elections

What are the political equations, the challenges, and the threats?

Mizoram (40 seats; halfway mark: 21)

End of the current Assembly’s term: December 17, 2023

Party in power: Mizo National Front, led by Zoramthanga

The Christian-majority state shares a border with restive Manipur, and 78-year-old Zoramthanga, who was once a lieutenant of underground leader Laldenga, has repeatedly stressed that his state needs to tread cautiously.

The influx of Kuki refugees from Manipur could have a destabilising effect on the state, while at the same time, giving rise to demands from the Greater Zo, the tribal community that is in majority in Mizoram.

Although the Mizo National Front (MNF) is a