Politics / Mizoram

AIZAWL, Dec 20 ?Zoramthanga-led Mizo National Front government has consolidated its position with one legislator belonging to the Mizoram People?s Conference (MPC) opting to join it, reports PTI. MPC which had three elected repersentatives after the just-concluded state assembly polls split with F Lalthanzuala opting to join the ruling MNF camp on Friday.

Presently, the ruling MNF and its ally (Mara Democratic Front) have 21 seats in the 40-member house after the resignation of Zoramthanga from Kolasib which he had won along with Champai in the Novermber 20 Assembly elections. Lalthanzuala...

Aizawl, Dec. 19: The Mizoram People?s Conference (MPC) today said the formation of the new political party did not constitute a split. ?The people who have formed this new party are all non-residents of Aizawl and are not party functionaries at the general headquarters. Without a difference of opinion in the ideology of the party and without any party headquarters functionary among the dissidents, this cannot be termed as a split of the MPC party legally or formally,? MPC president Lalhmingthanga told newspersons here today.

Yesterday, a group of politicians, who do not reside in Aizawl...

Aizawl, Dec. 18: The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) has constituted a team to placate party workers who are angry over chief minister Zoramthanga choosing to vacate the Kolasib seat instead of Champhai, both of which he contested and won in the recent Assembly poll.

The MNF switched to damage-control mode immediately after the Assembly session ended yesterday and asked treasurer and cabinet minister R. Tlanghmingthanga to explain the situation to party members. He left for Kolasib, which the chief minister officially vacated on Tuesday, this morning.

Officer-bearers of all units of the...

Aizawl, Dec. 15: The Mizo National Front heaved a sigh of relief as Mara Democratic Front president and legislator P.P. Thawlla was sworn in by governor A.R. Kohli this afternoon as the sixth minister of state in Zoramthanga?s ministry.

The MNF desperately needed another MLA to consolidate its simple majority in the Mizoram House. Thawlla, till Sunday noon, had said he would sit as an Independent MLA until and unless the political affairs committee of his party, the MDF, decided otherwise.

Driving a hard bargain, a deal was reached late on Sunday night according to which the MDF will support...

AIZAWL, Dec 15 ? Former minister of state for finance, environment, forests and taxation Lalchamliana was elected Speaker of Mizoram Assembly unopposed on the first day of the session of the newly-constituted House here Monday, reports PTI.

Lalchamliana was declared elected unopposed by Protem Speaker R Khawpuithanga and was escorted to the Speaker?s chair by Chief Minister Zoramthanga and Opposition Leader Lal Thanhawla.

The new Speaker sought whole-hearters in maintaining the sanctity of the House.

Zoramthanga, Lal Thanhawla, Mizoram People?s Conference (MPC) chief Lalhmingthanga and PP...

Aizawl, Dec. 14: The Central Young Mizo Association (CYMA) has refuted Independent legislator H. Lalsangzuala?s claim about being pressured to vacate the Suangpuilawn seat, saying he voluntarily drafted and signed a resignation letter during a meeting last week. CYMA president Lianzuala said last evening that Lalsangzuala was requested to resign to pave the way for a free and fair bypoll in the constituency, where miscreants disrupted polling and tried to damage the electronic voting machines before counting of ballots.

?The MLA was asked to resign with the blessings of the four major parties...

Aizawl, Dec. 12: The Independent legislator from Mizoram?s Suangpuilawn constituency today retracted his offer to resign, saying he had made up his mind not to succumb to pressure. H. Lalsangzuala claimed to have signed a resignation letter on Tuesday under duress. He made the startling revelation in a communiqu? to the Speaker.

?I would like to inform you of the existence of my resignation letter, which I was compelled to sign under threat on December 9, 2003. As you are well aware that such a letter cannot be accepted, as it was not signed of my own free will, I, therefore, request you that...

Silchar, Dec. 11: The Mizoram People?s Conference (MPC)-Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) combine has ruled out the possibility of aligning with the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) even if it is offered a stake in the government. The statement follows reports about chief minister Zoramthanga toying with the idea of forming a coalition to lend stability to his government.

MPC president Lalhmingthanga said over phone last night from Aizawl that the priority of the combine was to consolidate the alliance and find a meeting ground with the Congress ?to stall further inroads by the MNF?.

Leaders of...

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...

AIZAWL, Dec 9?Mizoram Chief Minister, Zoramthanga today allocated portfolios to the 14 ministers sworn in on Thursday, reports PTI. Zoramthanga kept to himself finance, taxation, planning, general administration, political cabinet, vigilance, power, industries, art and culture, public works and other departments not allotted.

Among the Cabinet ministers? Tawoluia was given home, public health engineering and personnel and administrative reforms while R Tianghmingthanga was allotted health, social welfare and secretariat administration. Another senior cabinet member Lalrinchhana got animal...