Lalduhoma takes oath as Mizoram CM, gives state its first non-MNF, non-Congress government

Guwahati: The Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) government led by Lalduhoma took oath in Mizoram on Friday, giving the hilly Northeastern state its first non-Congress, non-MNF government.

Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati administered the oath of office and secrecy to Lalduhoma as the new Chief Minister and 11 other legislators as ministers at the swearing-ceremony at the Raj Bhavan in Aizawl. The 73-year-old IPS officer-turned-politician, Lalduhoma, became the sixth Chief Minister of the state, where the Mizo National Front (MNF) and Congress held power since it attained statehood in 1987.

Seven MLAs, K. Sapdanga, Vanlalhlana, C. Lalsawivunga, Lalthansanga, Vanlalthlana, PC Vanlalruata and Lalrinpuii took oath as Cabinet ministers. Lalrinpuii is the only woman minister in the Lalduhoma cabinet. Four other MLAs, F. Rodingliana, B. Lalchhanzova, Lalnilawma and Lalnghinglova Hmar were also administered oaths as ministers with independent charge.

Two former CMs, Zoramthanga of the MNF and Lalthanhawla of the Congress, attended the swearing-in ceremony. Zoramthanga lost his seat this time to ZPM rival Lalthansanga, while Lalthanhawla had taken "retirement" from electoral politics in 2021 after Congress' debacle in 2018.

The ZPM stormed to power on December 4 and trounced the Zoramthanga-led MNF government by winning 27 out of the 40 seats. The MNF bagged only 10 seats. The BJP won two seats, while the Congress, which had been in power for several terms in the past, managed to win only one seat.

Lalduhoma, the leader:

From being the principal assistant to Mizoram's first CM, C. Chhunga, in 1972, to becoming the sixth CM himself on Friday, Lalduhoma's political career achieved what he had dreamed of while quitting the Indian Police Service and joining the Congress in 1984.

Inspired by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Lalduhoma had quit the IPS and joined the Congress in Mizoram. He was elected as a Lok Sabha member from Mizoram. As an IPS officer, Lalduhoma had served as the security in-charge of Gandhi.

A BA graduate from North East Hill University, Shillong, Lalduhoma quit Congress and joined MNF briefly when the Mizo Accord was signed in 1986 after the 20-year-long Mizo insurgency led by MNF leader Laldenga. Lalduhoma, however, split from MNF and formed the Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) and was elected as an MLA in the 2003 polls when Congress formed the government for the second term. He formed ZPM ahead of the 2018 Assembly polls, and ZPM candidates won in seven seats. ZPM's surprising performance in 2018 pushed the ruling Congress to the third spot with just five seats.

Ahead of the Assembly elections held on November 7, Lalduhoma promised a "new system" and a corruption-free government as he targeted the MNF and Congress, the two parties which held power since 1987.

In the 2018 elections, Lalduhoma defeated the veteran Congress leader and former CM, Lalthanhawla. Lalduhoma has become the most prominent leader in Mizoram after Lalthanhawla took "retirement" from politics in 2021, and Zoramthanga lost the elections this time to the ZPM rival.

After the swearing-in, Lalduhoma told reporters that fulfilling the promises made to the farmers by procuring their produce and improving the system of governance would be his government's immediate priorities.

Observers believe that tackling the financial strains and handling the issues related to the influx of refugees from neighbouring Myanmar and conflict-hit Manipur would be the two biggest challenges before the Lalduhoma government.