Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) leader Lalduhoma met Mizoram Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati on Wednesday to stake claim to form the new government. The ZPM stormed to power in the north-eastern state by dethroning the Mizo National Front (MNF) bagging 27 seats in the 40-member House on Monday (December 4). This will be the first time in the history of Mizoram that the northeastern state will be ruled by a non-Congress and non-MNF government since its creation in 1987.
The MNF won 10 seats, BJP (2) and Congress (1), according to the Election Commission of India data. In the 2018 assembly elections, the MNF had won 26 seats. Former Chief Minister and MNF chief Zoramthanga lost to ZPM’s Lalthansanga from the Aizawl East – I constituency by 2,101 votes. He later submitted his resignation to Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati.
Lalduhoma, 73, an ex-IPS officer who had served as the security in-charge of ex-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, held a meeting with the newly-elected party candidates and other leaders on Tuesday evening and discussed about formation of the council of ministers and distribution of portfolios, a party leader told news agency PTI.
Members of Val Upa Council, the decision-making body of the ZPM, attended the meeting.
Reportedly, Lalduhoma will be sworn in as the CM on Friday.
The ZPM chief Lalduhoma first contested the Mizoram elections on a Congress ticket in 1984, but lost to People’s Conference party nominee Lalhmingthanga. He later contested the Lok Sabha elections as a Congress candidate and was elected unopposed. In 1986, Lalduhome resigned as state Congress president and withdrew his primary membership from the party, after he was accused of conspiring against then chief minister Lal Thanhawla and some cabinet ministers.
In 2020, he was also disqualified by Mizoram Assembly Speaker Lalrinliana Sailo, after 12 MNF legislators filed complaints, alleging he defected to the ZPM by actively participating in party activities, though being elected as an independent in the 2018 polls. Besides the Congress, he was also once part of the MNF. He had floated his own party, the Zoram Nationalist Party, and was also instrumental in the formation of the ZPM.
Polling for the 40-member assembly polls was held on November 7, where more than 82 per cent of over 8.57 lakh voters exercised their franchise.
In the 2023 elections, the MNF, ZPM and Congress fielded candidates in all the 40 seats this time. The BJP contested in 23 constituencies, while the AAP nominated candidates in four assembly segments. Besides, there were 27 independent contestants.
