Aizawl (Mizoram): Success has not come easy for 73-year-old Lalduhoma, the former IPS officer who served as security in-charge of former prime minister Indira Gandhi. From earning the dubious distinction of the first MP to be disqualified under the anti-defection law, Lalduhoma defied political odds and went on to lead his party, Zoram People's Movement (ZPM), to victory in the Mizoram 2023 Assembly elections.
All set to becoming the chief minister of the State, Lalduhoma brought spotlight on the ZPM which was registered as a political party only in 2019 and secured a majority in the Mizoram assembly on Monday, winning 27 of the 40 seats and leading in one other, as votes were being counted, according to the Election Commission (EC).
Lalduhoma, speaking after his party's victory, said the state's youth were fed up with the incumbent and with the existing political system, in which their fathers or forefathers have been engaged with. "So they want to set themselves free and, try to establish a new system with a new leadership, with new principles. That is what the expectation that the youth are having," he said.
Lalduhoma said that the government was violating all the laws and most of the contract supplies were given, under the restricted tender system, which was a direct violation of the rules. "So I'm going to stop all kinds of restricting tenders. No single restricted tender should be given without my approval. This time, the number of voters of woman are more than that of men. My government is mainly formed by women. So we are grateful to them. And we are committed to uplifting their condition,” he said.
The CPM chief won the Serchhip seat by defeating his nearest MNF rival J Malsawmzuala Vanchhawng by 2,982 votes. For over three decades, Mizoram CM post saw competition between two senior politicians Lal Thanhawla of the Congress and MNF's Zoramthanga. Lalduhoma first contested the Mizoram assembly polls on a Congress ticket in 1984, but lost it. The same year, he was elected unopposed to the Lok Sabha polls as a Congress candidate.
Lalduhoma later resigned as state Congress president and from party primary membership in 1986, after he was accused of conspiring against then chief minister Lal Thanhawla and some cabinet ministers. He eventually became the first MP to be disqualified under the anti-defection law. He was also disqualified by Mizoram Assembly Speaker Lalrinliana Sailo in 2020, following complaints from Mizo National Front (MNF) legislators.
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