A 62-year-old retired school teacher, Lalzuithanga, is set to head the Lunglei Municipal Council (LMC) after the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) swept the first municipal polls in south Mizoram’s Lunglei town on Monday, ZPM sources said.
As per sources, Lalzuithanga from ward III has been unanimously selected to head the first municipal council as chairman, while K Lalrinawma (37) from ward VII has been chosen for the vice chairman post.
However, the date for swearing in of the first LMC is yet to be announced, Lunglei deputy commissioner Ramdinliani informed.
“A proposal has been sent to the concerned department for the swearing-in ceremony,” Ramdiniliani, who is also the district municipal election officer, added.
The ZPM party headed by Lalliansawta won an absolute majority in the municipal polls held on March 29, defeating ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) headed by chief minister Zoramthanga.
The party won all 11 seats, much to the dismay of other contesting parties.
Lalzuithanga, who retired as a school teacher in 2021, defeated his nearest opponent, F. Lalsawmkima of MNF, by a margin of 456 votes.
ZPM secured 49.31 percent of the total votes polled, while the MNF, which also contested 11 seats, managed to get 29.4 percent of the votes.
A total of 74.26 percent of eligible voters turned out in the first LMC poll, which saw 42 contenders, including 16 women, from four political parties.
The LMC covers four assembly constituencies, which were won and are currently ruled by the Mizo National Front (MNF).
Elections to the 40-member Mizoram assembly are due later this year.
In the last assembly polls held in November 2018, the ZPM had snagged 8 seats, with its chief ministerial candidate Lalduhoma winning two—Serchhip and Aizawl West-I.
Later, the party lost Aizawl West-I and Tuirial seats in the assembly by election, reducing the party’s tally to six in the state assembly.
The MNF has 28 members, while the Congress and BJP have 5 and 1, respectively, in the present assembly.
Also Read: Mizoram: Zoram People’s Movement sweeps Lunglei Municipal Council polls; MNF draws a blank
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