The Mizo National Front (MNF) Chief Zoramthanga on Saturday sworn in as Mizoram’s new chief minister. Zoramthanga served as Chief Minister in the Christian Dominated State twice from 1998-2003 and then from 2003-2008.
A former Chief Minister and MNF President, Zoramthanga, 74, was elected for a fifth term from Aizawl East-I seat, defeating Independent candidate K. Sapdanga by a margin of 2,504 votes.
Zoramthanga was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor K Rajasekharan at a ceremony in Aizawl. The MNF president took the oath in Mizo language.
The 74-year-old rebel-turned-politician was a former underground leader and a close aide of the legendary MNF leader Laldenga.
Earlier this week on Tuesday in recently concluded Mizoram Assembly Elections, Mizoram National Front totally dethroned the incumbent Indian National Congress. MNF bagged 26 seats while Congress was reduced to just 5 seats against its 34 seats in last assembly polls.
Congress former Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla on Tuesday lost from both contested seats from – Champhai South seat and Serchhip, indicates the level of anti-incumbency against the Congress-led government in the state.
While Bhartiya Janata Party managed to open its tally and secured a single seat in the erstwhile bastion of Congress.
MNF’s founder and former militant leader Laldenga had headed two brief MNF-led governments in 1986-1987 and 1987-1988 before the President’s rule was imposed in the state on October 8, 1988.
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