In a yet another jolt to Congress in Mizoram, an MLA named Hmingdailova Khiangte has resigned from the membership of the Mizoram Assembly on Monday. He is the fourth legislator of the incumbent party to do so ahead of the November 28 state assembly poll. Assembly secretariat sources revealed that Khiangte submitted his resignation to Speaker Hiphei at his official residence.
With this resignation, the Congress’ strength in the 40-member assembly has come down to 30, while that of opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) stands at 6. Four seats of the assembly are vacant.
Currently,Mizoram is the only state in the north east to be under Congress rule.
The first MLA to quit Congress was R Lalziriliana, the state home minister and second-in-command of Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla’s council of ministers who stepped down as minister on September 14 protesting against the government’s refusal to create a separate Saitual district comprising his home constituency Tawi seat.
Lalzirliana was expelled from the post of vice-president of the Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) and the primary membership of the party on September 17. He then resigned from the party on October 12 and joined the opposition Mizo National Front on October 15.
Lalrinliana Sailo who was also the member of All India Congress Committee (AICC), resigned from the state assembly on October 3 and also resigned as the member of the general secretary of the state Congress committee and primary member of the ruling party on the same day. Later, He too joined the MNF.
Founded by legendary Mizo leader Laldenga in 1959, MNF is being headed by former chief minister Zoramthanga. The party is a member of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) headed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Just few days ago, another Congress legislator Buddha Dhan Chakma, who was the former fisheries minister had resigned from the state legislature on October 16. He, however,joined the BJP in the presence of the visiting party chief Amit Shah the next day.