Mizoram Election 2023: Zoramthanga steps down as CM after defeat, ZPM set to form next Govt

Digital Desk: Chief Minister Zoramthanga's departure marked a dramatic change in Mizoram politics as the Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) emerged victorious in the state legislature elections. 

With the acquisition of 27 seats, the ZPM—a coalition of six regional parties—became a powerful force, breaking the long-standing monopoly held by the Mizo National Front (MNF) and Congress in the state.

On December 4, 2023, in the evening, Zoramthanga met with Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati to formally submit his resignation following his party's defeat. 

Only ten seats were won by the MNF, which Zoramthanga heads, and they were leading in three others. Several prominent figures, including Zoramthanga, were either in the lead or had lost their seats.

After winning the polls from Serchhip, the ZPM's President Lalduhoma is expected to take over as Chief Minister, ushering in a new era in Mizoram politics.

This election not only marks the end of MNF's control but also shows how the Congress party's power is eroding to the point where it is only a minor player in the state parliament. 

All four seats in Lunglei, the second-largest town in Mizoram, and all ten seats in Aizawl were won by the ZPM, demonstrating a broad endorsement of their platform and leadership.

Since its founding in 2018, the ZPM has experienced a political upheaval owing to the leadership of Lalduhoma, a former member of parliament, IPS officer, and MLA. It has presented itself as a secular movement with the goals of addressing many concerns in Mizoram and safeguarding religious minorities.

A new era of governance that pledges to protect the interests and identity of the Mizo people is anticipated in Mizoram as the state awaits Zoramthanga's official departure and the establishment of a new government under the ZPM.