Historic upset: Zoram People’s Movement breaks 36-year duopoly, sweeps Mizoram elections

Aizawl, 4 December (MTNews): Breaking a 36-year-long duopoly held by the Mizo National Front (MNF) and Congress in Mizoram, the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) is set to form the next government in the state. Securing a decisive victory against the incumbent MNF, ZPM won 27 out of 40 seats in the Mizoram Legislative Assembly.

The comprehensive win includes the defeat of three-time Chief Minister Zoramthanga by the ZPM’s Chief Ministerial candidate, Lalduhoma, in the Aizawl East-I constituency. Lalduhoma also emerged victorious from the Serchhip constituency.

ZPM’s success extends to winning all ten Aizawl seats and all four seats in Lunglei – Mizoram’s second-largest town. Notable upsets for the MNF include defeats for Deputy Chief Minister Tawnluia, ministers Lalruatkima and R Lalthangliana, and the state’s lone Rajya Sabha MP K Vanlalvena.

The MNF, which won 26 seats in 2018, has been reduced to 10 seats. The BJP, securing two seats in Saiha and Palak, expands its footprint in the state. It won only 1 seat in the 2018 election.

The Congress, after being in government for two terms, faces its worst position yet in the state, winning only one seat. It won 5 seats in the 2018 election. Mizoram joins the list of Northeastern states where the Congress’s presence in the assembly is negligible.