Zoramthanga is official nominee for MNF President

Former Chief Minister Zoramthanga (79) is most likely to continue leading the opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) as the party nomination committee on Saturday announced his name as the official candidate for the post of the president of the MNF in the party polls to be held on March 15. The MNF nomination committee also named former minister Dr. R. Lalthangliana (68) for the post of Senior Vice President while leader of the opposition in the state legislature Lalchhandama Ralte (52) and former Lok Sabha member Vanlalzawma (68) are named as official nominee for the post of vice presidents.Former minister Lalruatkima (51) is proposed to be treasurer of the party in the coming organization elections by the MNF nomination committee. Filing of nominations for the MNF party election is being opened from Monday with Wednesday as the last date of filing nominations.

While Zoramthanga, owning moral responsibility for the electoral debacle in the election to the 40-member state legislature held on November 7, submitted his resignation, his resignation was not accepted by the high command of the party.He, again orally announced and even wrote to the party nomination that he and former deputy chief minister Tawnluia (80), who is also senior vice president of the party decided not to contest the party polls and should not be considered in the coming organisation election. However, the MNF nomination committee, which dropped Tawnluia from the race in the party elections,decided that Zoramthanga will be the official candidate for the post of the party president.

One MNF leader said that there has been a vacuum in the party leadership which can only be filled in by Zoramthanga at present. “In the next state assembly elections to be held in 2028, Zoramthanga will be 85 years of age and is most likely not to contest to hold public office,” the leader said, adding that the party workers expect a leader to lead the MNF will emerge during the next 5 years. Zoramthanga has led the 63-year-old party since 1990, soon after the demise of the MNF supremo and former Chief Minister Laldenga till date. Former close aide of Laldenga in the underground days, Zoramthanga emerged as a top leader after the death of his leader and became Chief Minister for 3 terms. EOM