After a long and storied public life, former IPS officer Lalduhoma is set to become the new Chief Minister of Mizoram. The 73-year-old emerged victorious in the constituency of Sercchip, winning by 2,982 votes. This historic win marks the first time in three decades that Mizoram will have a new Chief Minister.
Lalduhoma’s political journey is an interesting one. After completing his BA degree from the North East Hill University, he joined the Indian Police Service and eventually became the security in-charge for then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. In 1984, he resigned from the service and joined the Congress, getting elected to the Lok Sabha later that year.
However, Lalduhoma’s stint with the Congress was short-lived. In 1988, he became the first MP to be disqualified under the anti-defection law after resigning from the party. In 2003, he was elected as an MLA from a party he founded, the Zoram Nationalist Party, before eventually forming the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) in 2017.
The ZPM started as a common platform of six smaller regional parties and civil society groups. It gained recognition as a party in 2019 and made its mark in the 2021 Serchhip by-election, where Lalduhoma emerged victorious after being disqualified from the Assembly for “defecting” to the ZPM.
The ZPM’s victory in the Assembly polls is a significant milestone for Mizoram’s political landscape. Breaking the Congress-Mizo National Front (MNF) duopoly, the ZPM has won 15 constituencies and is leading in 12, signaling a shift in power. Since the state’s formation in 1987, the chief ministership has alternated between the Congress and the MNF.
In the run-up to the elections, the ZPM and Lalduhoma capitalized on decades of anti-incumbency against both the Congress and the MNF. They accused the MNF of losing its regional character by aligning with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. The ZPM, like the MNF, emphasizes Mizo identity and Lalduhoma has advocated for the unification of all areas inhabited by the Zo ethnic group.
Lalduhoma’s ascent to the Chief Minister’s office marks a new chapter in Mizoram’s political landscape. As he takes the reins of the state, there is anticipation and hope for positive change under his leadership.
