New Delhi: With favourable trends turning into seats for the Mizo National Front (MNF), the party is all set to return to power after a gap of ten years in Mizoram. Many new faces would be entering the seventh legislative assembly, but none among them would be a woman.While 16 women had entered the poll fray – the highest ever in the state’s electoral history – none, unfortunately, could make it to the winner’s list. The day’s champion, MNF, didn’t give any party ticket to women. Party president Zoramthanga categorically told reporters on being asked about it that it was because no woman candidate “is strong enough” to win.The 2013 assembly polls also didn’t send any woman MLA to the House. However, in end 2014, the Congress gave a ticket to Vanlalawmpuii Chwangthu to contest the bye-polls from Hrangturzo – the seat vacated by chief minister Lal Thanhawla as he fought from two seats in the 2013 elections. Vanlalawmpuii not only won the polls but was also made a minister by the Congress government. She became a woman MLA as well as a woman minister after a gap of 27 years in the state. In 1987, Lalhlimpuii Hmar was inducted to the maiden MNF ministry formed by Laldenga.Also read: How a Rebel Congress MLA Ensured BJP’s Maiden Entry Into Mizoram AssemblyVanlalawmpuii became only the fourth woman MLA to enter the Mizoram assembly. The first woman legislator, Thanmawii, was elected in 1978 when Mizoram was a union territory. In 1984, K. Thansiami became the second women to be elected to the House.In the November 28 elections, the BJP and a newly-formed party, Zoram Thar, gave the highest number of tickets – six each – to women. The Congress and Zoram People’s Movement named two women candidates each. Congress’ Vanlalwmpuii contested from Hrangturzo but lost to Lalchamliana of MNF.While the northeastern state of Nagaland is yet to send a woman MLA to the assembly, Mizoram, even though it has broken the jinx, is among those states which have one of the lowest participation of women in electoral politics. While in 1998, all the ten women contestants lost their deposits, in 2003, six out of the seven women candidates lost it. In the 2008 elections, six out of the nine contestants forfeited their deposits, while in the 2013 polls, four out of the six candidates met with the same fate.