MNF announces candidates list for Mizoram assembly poll

Aizawl, Oct. 22 (PTI): Former chief minister and Mizo National Front (MNF) president Zoramthanga will contest from Aizawl East-I assembly constituency, according to the list of candidates released by the party for the November 28 poll on Monday.

The MNF declared that it would contest all the 40 seats in the upcoming election to the state legislature, but announced names of 39 candidates sans Tuichawng assembly seat within the Chakma autonomous district council (CADC) area where the NGO Coordination had appealed to all the political parties not to field candidates belonging to the Chakma community.

MNF though is a constituent of North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) formed by BJP in 2016 as a political coalition along with regional parties, but both the parties are contesting the state assembly poll separately.

Robert Hmingthansanga, an advocate has been fielded at West Tuipui seat in south Mizoram’s Lunglei district, the constituency where Chakmas are a majority.
The announcement of the candidates was held at Vanapa Hall in Aizawl.

Senior Vice president of the MNF Tawnluia, former army chief of the erstwhile underground Mizo National Army (MNA) and former home minister in the Zoramthanga government from 1998-2003 and 2003-2008 would contest from Tuichang seat in Myanmar border Champhai district while vice president of the party Dr. R Lalthangliana would file his nomination from south Tuipui seat in Lunglei district.

The party treasurer, former Lok Sabha member and present opposition group leader Vanlalzawma would try his luck again from Aizawl West-III seat.
The youngest candidate in the MNF list is Robert Lalhmingsanga, who was born on October two, 1980 and will be in the field from West Tuipui while the eldest candidate K.

Sangthuama, the sitting legislator and former minister was born in 1940.
Among the MNF candidates, four have doctorate degrees and two medical degree holders.

The MNF is fielding 17 first timers in the coming polls.

Cong. loses yet another MLA ahead of poll
Congress MLA Hmingdailova Khiangte resigned from the membership of the Mizoram house on Monday becoming the fourth legislator of the ruling party to do so ahead of the November 28 state assembly poll.

With the resignation, the Congress’ strength in the 40-member house has come down to 30, while that of opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) stands at 6. Four seats are vacant.

Mizoram is the only state in the north east under the Congress.
Khiangte submitted his resignation to Speaker Hiphei at his official residence, Assembly secretariat sources said.

When contacted Khiangte said that he would announce the reason behind his decision as well as the future course of action on Tuesday.
Resignations from the Congress began when R Lalziriliana, the state home minister and second-in-command of Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla’s council of ministers, stepped down as minister on September 14 protesting against the government’s refusal to create a separate Saitual district comprising his home turf Tawi seat.

Lalzirliana was expelled from the post of vice-president of the Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) and the primary membership of the party on September 17.

He resigned from the party on October 12 and joined the opposition Mizo National Front on October 15.
Former health minister Lalrinliana Sailo had resigned from the state assembly on October 3 and also stepped down as the member of the All India Congress

Committee (AICC), general secretary of the state Congress committee and primary member of the ruling party on the same day. He later joined the MNF.
Founded by legendary Mizo leader Laldenga in 1959, MNF is being headed by former chief minister Zoramthanga.

The party is a member of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) headed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Another Congress legislator Buddha Dhan Chakma, who was the former fisheries minister had resigned from the state legislature on October 16 and had joined the BJP in the presence of the visiting party chief Amit Shah the next day.