ZPM sweeps Mizoram, ends MNF reign

Aizawl: isplaying a stunning triumph, IPS officer-turned-politician Lalduhoma, who’s party Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) wrested power by securing 27 seats in the 40-member Assembly, will be the sixth politician to assume the Chief Ministerial posts in Mizoram.

ZPM’s President and party’s Chief Ministerial candidate Lalduhoma in a multi corner contest retained his Serchhip seat defeating his nearest MNF rival J. Malsawmzuala Vanchhawng by a margin of 2,983 votes while most of the prominent nominees of the party were leading in their respective seats.

Former security officer of the Late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the IPS officer-turned-politician Lalduhoma, who secured 8,314 votes, was elected to the state Assembly for the second consecutive time. ZPM Chief Ministerial candidate Lalduhoma after winning his seat told the media that on Tuesday or Wednesday he would meet the state Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati to stake his claim to form the government, and the swearing-in-ceremony would be held within this month.

“All corruption cases (during the MNF regime) would be inquired by the CBI and other agencies. We would deliver a new system of governance in Mizoram by maintaining transparency in all sectors,” the ZPM supremo said on Monday.

Mizoram was previously part of Assam until 1972, when it was carved out as a Union Territory. It became the 23rd state of India, a step above Union Territory, on February 20, 1987 after years of insurgency. Since 1987, when Mizoram gained its statehood and held its first Assembly elections, the mountainous state has only seen bipolar politics between the Congress and the Mizo National Front (MNF), first led by Laldenga, and then by outgoing Chief Minister Zoramthanga.

Congress stalwart Lal Thanhwala and MNF supremo Zoramthanga holding the Chief Ministerial post mostly governed the country’s second least populated state after Sikkim. Just before and after the 2018 Assembly elections in Mizoram, ZPM led by Lalduhoma became a major challenger to both the MNF and the Congress.

ZPM, whose candidates had to contest the 2018 Assembly polls as Independents as the party was not registered by the Election Commission of India (ECI), won eight seats but lost two seats in the subsequent bypolls with party chief Lalduhoma retaining the Serchhip seat in the by-election.

The 73-year-old police officer-turned-politician has also emerged as a strong contender for the Chief Ministerial post before the November 7 Assembly elections to the 40-member Assembly.

Before the Assembly polls, Lalduhoma had told IANS: “My party (ZPM) would secure a landslide victory in the November 7 Assembly polls, and we would form the next government in Mizoram.

“This is a thousand per cent assured. There is no question of aligning with any other party as we would win much more than the majority number of seats.” He had said the ZPM had already convinced the people of Mizoram that it would give a new system of governance, unlike the Congress and the MNF.

“For the past many years, due to our constant and sincere efforts, we obtained huge public support across Mizoram. As both the MNF and the Congress failed to deliver the goods for the all-round development and welfare of the Mizo people, we (ZPM) happened to be the main political force in the state,” Lalduhoma had said. The former IPS officer served as the security in-charge to Late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and held a vital post in the organising committee of the 1982 Asian Games.