Aizawl: Days after ending Congress’ 10-year rule in Mizoram, Mizo National Front (MNF) chief Zoramthanga on Saturday took oath as the chief minister of the northeastern state for a third term.
Governor Kummanam Rajasekharan administered the oath of office and secrecy to Zoramthanga and his 11 Council of Ministers (six of them as ministers of state) at a ceremony at the Raj Bhavan here.
Zoramthanga, 74, earlier headed the state from 1998-2003 and 2003-2008.
During the swearing-in ceremony, the National Anthem was sung, followed by a reading of the Bible, singing of Christian hymns and prayer by Rev R. Lalhmingthanga, chairman of Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee, a conglomerate of 16 major churches in the state.
Among those present at the ceremony were outgoing chief minister Lal Thanhawla. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) leader and former Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, and other leaders of various political parties and senior civil and security officials were also present.
The other council-of-ministers who also took oath are: Tawnluia, R. Lalthangliana, Lalchamliana, R. Lalzirliana, C. Lalrinsanga (all cabinet ministers), K. Lalrinliana, Lalchhandama Ralte, Lalruatkima, K. Beichhua, T.J. Lalnuntluanga and Robert Romawia Ralte (all ministers of state).
Tawnluia, who was elected to the Assembly for a fifth term since 1987, has been appointed as Deputy Chief Minister.
The hardworking veteran tribal leader was earlier the chief minister of the Christian-dominated northeastern state for 10 years (1998-2003 and 2003-2008).
“Zoramthanga’s firm loyalty for the Mizo cause makes him an acceptable leader both among the young and old age, men and women in Mizoram,” political analyst and academician K. Sailo told IANS.
He said that the Congress government’s 10 year misrule, non-performance and Mizoram’s under development, besides job crisis among the youth, fittingly convinced the people to change the regime.
He was Laldenga’s second-in-command during the secessionist movement in Mizoram and became the successor as party chief, after MNF was recognised as a political party.
After the devastating famine of 1959 and the Centre’s alleged “indifference towards Mizos”, the MNF led by Laldenga “declared independence from the Indian Union” on March 1, 1966.
Zoramthanga joined the outlawed MNF in the same year while waiting for his results in Bachelor of Arts course at the D.M. College under Manipur University in Imphal.
He was also arrested during the clandestine movement.
Zoramthanga accompanied Laldenga to Pakistan and Europe while the MNF was holding talks with the Indian government and was actively involved in the peace parleys.
Coming overground, following the historic Mizo peace accord signed on June 30, 1986, between the MNF and the Centre, he was inducted as a minister in the interim government headed by Laldenga for six months.
He was appointed as secretary to Laldenga since 1969 and as vice-president of the “Mizoram government-in-exile” since 1979 as well as the Vice-President of the MNF party.
When the MNF under the leadership of Laldenga came to power in 1987, Zoramthanga became the Finance and Education Minister.
He was elected as the MNF President after Laldenga’s death in July 1990 from lung cancer.
In the 1998 Assembly elections, the party won the polls and Zoramthanga became the Chief Minister.
In 2017, the politician published his first book on the history of the Mizo nationalism movement in Mizo language and the book was sold out within a week of its release.
The MNF in the November 28 Assembly polls secured 26 seats, five more than an absolute majority in the 40-member Assembly, ousting the Congress from power in its last bastion in northeast India.
The MNF only got five seats in the 2013 Assembly polls, while the Congress won 34. This time, the Congress got only five seats.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the first time made its entry into the Mizoram Assembly, winning the lone Tuichawng seat.
State Congress chief and outgoing Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla lost in both Champhai South and Serchhip constituencies.
Zoramthanga won the Aizawl East-I seat for the fifth term.
The MNF is a constituent of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA).
However, both the BJP and MNF fielded candidates separately in 40 and 39 seats, respectively.
