The Gorkhas, who are one of the largest minorities in the state, are deprived of OBC status through what they say is the step-motherly attitude of the government and Mizos.
"The Gorkhas in Mizoram deserve OBC status. We have been fighting for it for a long time. We want OBC status for securing central government jobs. We are not interested in OBC status for state government jobs," said H.B. Thapa, Mizoram Gorkha Joint Action Committee chairman.
Gorkhas are now said to be weighing up the NOTA option provided by the Election Commission in the November 25 Assembly elections
There are around 25,000 Gorkhas in the state out of which 9771 are eligible voters. The Gorkhas are present in 23 of the 40 assembly segments in the state.
"All state governments since 1987 have denied us our rights. Now if our community decides to go for the NOTA option then it is only due to their apathy," said Mahesh Rai, a Gorkha leader.
The Election Commission has given the NOTA option - meaning 'none of the above' - for voters unhappy with the candidates, or those who do not want to vote for any political party.
The present Congress government formed a committee which gave a report accepting the demand of the Gorkhas for OBC status for central government jobs. But nothing has changed since then.
Gorkhas started settling in the late 1880s and had backward community status when Mizoram was a part of Assam.
But when Mizoram became a separate state in 1987, the backward status was taken away and Gorkhas were made a 'general category' group, denying them the special privileges that they used to enjoy while applying for jobs in either the Central or the state government.