Mizoram Congress ends MNF alliance, joins ZPM to form Lai council government
Aizawl: The Mizoram Congress on Friday ended its pre-poll alliance with the Mizo National Front (MNF) and joined forces with the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) in a move aimed at forming the government at the Lai Autonomous District Council.
J Ropianga Chinzah, president of the Lawngtlai District Congress Committee, said the MNF had violated their pre-poll agreement by attempting to influence several elected council members.
“Despite our pre-poll pact, the MNF leadership tried to entice ZPM’s T Zakunga by offering him the chief executive member’s post,” Chinzah stated.
C Ngunlianchunga, sitting MLA and vice president of the Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), added that the pre-poll agreement between the two parties included provisions to negotiate a coalition government in the event of a hung assembly.
In the December 3 elections to the Lai Autonomous District Council, the MNF emerged as the single largest party with eight seats, followed by the Indian National Congress with seven seats.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won two seats, and two independents also secured seats.
MNF vice president and Mizoram Legislative Assembly opposition leader Lalchhandama Ralte denied the Congress’s claims, asserting that the MNF continued to honor the pre-poll agreement.
“In the last Lai district council elections, our party won 20 out of 25 seats while in power. The declining support for the ruling ZPM is evident, and their recent alignment with the Congress appears to be purely for government formation,” Ralte said at Mizoram Hnam Run, the MNF headquarters.
He added, “Instead of resorting to horse-trading or political manoeuvres, our council members will serve as a strong opposition for the people of Lai Council.”
Although Congress and ZPM have signaled intentions to form a coalition, Ralte noted that disputes over power-sharing had already emerged even before any coalition was formalized.
The Lai Autonomous District Council is one of Mizoram’s three Sixth Schedule autonomous councils, established in 1972 alongside the Chakma and Mara councils.
It serves as a self-governing body for the Lai community, overseeing local administration, customary law, land management, and development activities.