Lalduhoma is all set to become the new CM of Mizoram after winning with a landslide victory in Mizoram Assembly Elections 2023
By Azra Ali
The four-year-old Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) won a landslide victory in the Mizoram Assembly Elections 2023 by winning 27 seats in the 40-member Assembly, as per the results announced on Monday, 4 December.
The Mizoram polls saw a multi-party fight between the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), the ZPM, the Congress, and the BJP. The MNF’s tally fell from 26 in 2018 to just 9 in 2023. The BJP and Congress managed to win just two and one seat, respectively.
The ZPM was formed only in 2017, and contested for the first time as a recognised political party. Its rise has been striking – this is the first time that a party other than the MNF or the Congress has been voted into power in Mizoram.
Rise of ZPM
ZPM, under the leadership of Lalduhoma, took a middle path on ideological issues and gained popularity mostly in urban areas.
The ZPM was formed as a coalition of six small regional parties and civil society groups in 2017 as a non-Congress and non-MNF political alternative that promised to address corruption in governance.One of these regional parties was the Zoram Nationalist Party, which had been founded by Lalduhoma, who is now set to be Chief Minister.
It presented itself as a corruption-free alternative, and attacked the MNF for not fulfilling its promises, especially its promise of financial assistance of Rs 3 lakh to all families, and for alleged complacency and lethargy.
It promised a “new system” of administrative reforms, land reforms, economic reforms”, which includes Minimum Support Prices for four locally produced crops: ginger, turmeric, chilli and broomgrass.
Who is Lalduhoma?
He is a former IPS officer who served as security in-charge for then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.He resigned from the IPS in 1984 and joined the Indian National Congress, and was elected to Lok Sabha later that year.
He was reportedly sent by Indira Gandhi to hold negotiations with Mizo militant leader Laldenga in London and persuade him for peace talks. Laldenga finally signed a peace accord in 1987 with then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Lalduhoma ended up becoming the first MP to be disqualified under the anti-defection law in 1988 after he resigned from the Congress. He has been involved in state politics ever since, and was elected to the Assembly in 2003 and 2008 from his earlier party, the ZNP.
Conclusion
ZPM emphasised that Mizo nationalism is not the exclusive domain of the MNF. It positioned itself as the only authentic regional voice, accusing the MNF of losing its regional identity by being part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.
Lalduhoma has repeatedly been clear on his stand that his party would maintain distance from the BJP and Congress.
“We will not join any political formation at the national level. We do not want to be dictated from New Delhi.”
Lalduhoma in an ET interview.