Zoramthanga to continue as MNF president

Zoramthanga (79) will continue as Mizo National Front (MNF) president for 3 more years till March 2027, a party leader said. The former chief minister was declared elected unopposed on Monday as no other candidate has filed nomination for the president post till the last date of filing nomination on February 28, he said. Although refused to continue as president and wanted to retire from active politics, Zoramthanga was earlier nominated by the party nomination committee as official candidate for the president post. The nomination committee also nominated former health minister Dr. R. Lalthangliana as official candidate for senior vice president, MNF Legislature Party leader and opposition leader Lalchhandama Ralte and former Lok Sabha member Vanlalzawma as party vice presidents and former minister Lalruatkima as treasurer.

The last date for withdrawal of candidature has ended on March 2. Apart Zoramthanga, other official candidates were also declared elected unopposed, the leader said. Zoramthanga,who is turning 80 in July this year, had resigned as the MNF president on December 5 last year after the party suffered defeat in the assembly polls held in November that year. However, his resignation was rejected by the party. MNF suffered a heavy defeat from Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) in assembly polls held on November 7, winning only 10 seats, down from its tally of 26 in the 2018 assembly polls. The MNF president had also said earlier that he will retire from active politics due to old age and asked the nomination committee not to nominate him any more. However, the party leadership has faith in the leadership of Zoramthanga and said he continue as the president.

Zoramthanga has been holding the post of MNF president for more than 30 years since 1990 after the death of Laldenga, who founded the party and spearheaded a secessionist movement between 1966 and 1986. He joined the underground movement by the MNF in 1966 and became secretary to the president (Laldenga) when the outfit moved to East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in 1969. Zoramthanga was given the responsibility of vice president of MNF and became one of the most trusted persons of president Laldenga in 1979. Zoramthanga  has so far successfully contested assembly polls for six times in 1987, 1989, 1993, 1998, 2003 and 2018. He has served as chief minister for three terms during 1998 to 2008 and 2018 to 2023.