Aizawl, Dec. 9: The Independent candidate who won the election in Mizoram?s Suangpuilawn constituency has promised to resign immediately after being sworn in as a legislator to pave the way for a ?free and fair bypoll?. H. Lalsangzuala, who was declared the winner of the seat yesterday, made the commitment this morning in an agreement with the Hmar People?s Convention, which had backed him, and the Central Young Mizo Association. He agreed with the two organisations that the election in Suangpuilawn had not been free and fair.
Sources said Lalsangzuala prepared the draft of his resignation letter at the same meeting. He will hand it to the Speaker after being sworn in.
The Independent candidate?s victory in Suangpuilawn, where law and order problems affected polling and delayed counting of votes by nearly a week, meant the ruling Mizo National Front?s tally of 21 in the 40-member Assembly would remain so.
In a break from convention, the votes were counted in New Delhi. Miscreants damaged the electronic voting machines used in the constituency on December 3, but the memory chips were found to be functioning on inspection in the capital.
Apart from Suangpuilawn, either Champhai or Kolasib will require a bypoll because chief minister Zoramthanga, who won both seats, has to vacate one. The Mizo National Front (MNF) chief defeated PCC president Lalthanhawla in Champhai.
The chief minister retains control over as many as 10 departments, while the second most powerful person in the new ministry, Tawnluia, has been given three departments.
Zoramthanga has kept for himself finance, taxation, planning and programme implementation, general administration, political and cabinet affairs, vigilance, electricity, industries, art and culture and public works. Tawnluia is in charge of the departments of home, public health engineering and personnel and administrative reforms.
The governor notified the distribution of portfolios yesterday.
The health, social welfare and secretariat administration portfolios have gone to R. Tlanghmingthanga, while Lalrinchhana has been given the transport and relief and rehabilitation departments in addition to his previous portfolio, animal husbandry and veterinary.