Mizoram Polls 2023: Five MLAs resign ahead of assembly polls

The 5 ZPM MLAs had won 2018 polls as Independents as ZPM was not registered with the Election Commission of India (ECI) then

Ahead of the Mizoram Assembly elections, five legislators submitted their resignations to the Speaker of the state assembly Lalrinliana Sailo on Tuesday.

The legislators – V.L. Zaithanzama, Aizawl West – III, Dr. Vanlalthlana, Aizawl North – II, Lalchhuanthanga, Aizawl South – II, C. Lalsawivunga, Aizawl South – I and Vanlalhlana, Aizawl North – I – tendered their resignations for technical reasons.

The five MLAs contested 2018 state assembly elections as Independents as Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) was not registered with the Election Commission of India (ECI) then.

Though they were accepted in the state assembly as members of the Zo People’s Movement legislature party, contesting the coming polls as ZPM, a registered party now, can invite disqualification.

ZPM leader and Chief Ministerial candidate of the party in 2018 Lalduhoma was re-elected from his Serchhip constituency in 2021 by contesting as ZPM official candidate, after the ZPM was registered as a political party in 2019. Therefore, he does not need to resign.

The resignation of these MLAs is purely for technical reasons. There is nothing political about these resignations.

However, politically speaking, 2 MLAs – one from the Congress and one from MNF have resigned and joined rival parties.

Congress MLA K.T. Rokhaw, elected from Palak assembly seat in 2018, resigned on October 3 as he is going to contest the coming polls in the same seat as the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) official nominee.

Former Minister of State and MNF leader Dr. K. Beichhua, who resigned as a minister on December 12, 2022 and was expelled from the party due to ‘anti-party activities’ also resigned as MNF MLA on October 6 and joined the BJP on the same day. He is all set to contest from Siaha assembly seat, his home turf as candidate of the saffron party.

The MNF and ZPM have decided to contest all the 40 assembly seats and have announced their candidates for all the seats.

The BJP is yet to announce its candidates except Beichhua.

Also Read: Mizoram polls: MNF, ZPM candidates in touch with BJP, BJP National Spokesperson Mhonlumo Kikon’s big statement

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