Mizoram: Congress Undergoes Major Reshuffle Ahead of State Elections

AIZAWL: In a strategic effort to rejuvenate the Mizoram Congress ahead of the state assembly elections, Lalsawta, the state party president, has initiated a major reshuffle of the party's officebearers. The key highlight of this reshuffle is the induction of former state chief secretary, Lalnunmawia Chuaungo, as the vice president of the party. This decision reflects a concerted effort to bolster the party's appeal and organizational strength.

Furthermore, the reshuffle involves the appointment of Lal Thanzara, the current party vice-president and former minister, as the senior vice-president. Notably, Lal Thanzara is the younger brother of Lal Thanhawla, a prominent political figure with a rich political legacy, having served as Mizoram's chief minister five times.

This crucial restructuring of the Mizoram Congress received official approval during a meeting of the MPCC (Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee) executive committee held on a recent Friday.

The induction of Lalnunmawia Chuaungo as vice-president carries significant political weight. Chuaungo had earned the sympathies of the general public when he was controversially removed from his position as the state's home principal secretary just weeks before the 2018 Mizoram assembly polls. His removal stemmed from a complaint filed by the then-state chief electoral officer, SB Shashank, who alleged that Chuaungo had interfered in the electoral process. The dispute centered around the deployment of additional central armed police forces, which Chuaungo had reportedly objected to. Additionally, Chuaungo was accused of opposing the use of identification slips of Bru voters for any purpose other than repatriation.

This move to induct Chuaungo into the party's leadership is seen as an attempt to harness his popularity and experience for the upcoming elections. His return to Mizoram to assume the role of Chief Secretary in February 2019 was met with a hero's welcome, signifying the public's admiration for him.

Chuaungo, a Gujarat cadre IAS officer of the 1987 batch, retired as the state chief secretary in October 2021 and subsequently took up the position of chief information commissioner (CIC). However, he recently made the decision to exit the CIC post in order to enter the realm of politics. His affiliation with the Congress party since June 20 is aimed at fortifying the party's position in preparation for the forthcoming assembly polls.

The Mizoram Congress has been grappling with an anti-incumbency wave and internal disputes, which have hindered its ability to challenge the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) thus far. In the current 40-member Mizoram assembly, the Congress holds just five seats, while the MNF has a stronghold with 26 seats. The Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) has six seats, and the BJP holds one seat.

Dr. K. Beichhua, who resigned as a minister in December of the previous year and was subsequently expelled from the MNF, has expressed his intention to join the BJP ahead of the assembly elections. This political landscape underscores the competitive environment leading up to the elections and the importance of strategic moves such as Chuaungo's induction into the Mizoram Congress leadership.

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