Assembly election result Mizoram: ZPM sweeps state in major setback to MNF and BJP-led NDA

NEW DELHI: In a major upset for the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), a constituent of the BJP-helmed NDA, the Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) won 27 seats in the Mizoram assembly polls on Monday, easily surpassing the 21-seat majority mark in the 40-seat assembly.


Incumbent MNF registered victory in just 10 seats. Chief minister Zoramthanga lost Aizawl East-I seat to Lalthansanga of ZPM by 2,101 votes.

Mizoram's political landscape has been dominated by the Congress and the MNF since it attained full statehood in 1987.


MNF president and current CM Zoramthanga stood out as one of the most prominent figures to lose in this election. He became CM after the 1998 assembly polls, ending Congress's 10-year rule. The MNF governed for a decade until Congress won in 2008 and 2013.

Deputy CM Tawnluia lost to ZPM candidate W Chhuanawma in the Tuichang seat by a margin of 909 votes.


Lalduhoma, ZPM's chief ministerial candidate, has secured a clear victory in the Serchhip constituency, defeating MNF candidate J Malsawmzuala Vanchhawng by 2,982 votes.

ZPM's chief ministerial candidate

• A former IPS officer, Lalduhoma, who served as the security in-charge of former PM Indira Gandhi, assured voters that he will form a stable government. He was elected as Lok Sabha MP from Mizoram in 1984 under the Congress ticket.
• He left the Congress, for which he was disqualified from Parliament. He became the first MP to be discharged upon anti-defection law in India.
• In 2018, Lalduhoma was elected from Aizawl West I and Serchhip constituencies, and chose to represent Serchhip since 2018.
• While serving as leader of the opposition of the legislature, he was disqualified as Member of the Legislative Assembly on charge of breaching anti-defection law in 2020 to become the first case in state legislatures in India.
• He was re-elected from the same Serchhip constituency in a by-election in 2021.

Results unexpected: BJP
Meanwhile, the BJP won two seats -- its best-ever performance in Mizoram.

BJP state party chief Vanlalhmuaka said the result is "little unexpected" for the party.


"Earlier, I said that people expected a hung assembly but after seeing the results, it is a little unexpected but we accept it and we respect the people's mandate ... Under the leadership of PM Modi and JP Nadda, the BJP is progressing a lot in Mizoram. In 2018, we were getting only 1 seat but now we have secured 2," he said.

The elections to the 40-member Mizoram assembly were held on November 7, with the ruling MNF facing a stout challenge from the ZPM, Congress, and the BJP.

(With inputs from agencies)