By IANS,
Aizawl : Veteran Congress leader Lalthanhawla is all set to head the Congress government in Mizoram with the party sweeping the polls Monday winning an absolute majority in the 40-member state legislature.
The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) faced a humiliating defeat with the Congress storming back to power after being in political wilderness for a decade. Even Chief Minister Zoramthanga, who is the driving force of the MNF, himself lost.
According to latest trends and results available, the Congress won 22 seats and was leading in three seats, while the MNF managed to win in just two seats. Small regional players, Mizo People’s Conference, the Maraland Democratic Party and the Zoram Nationalist Party, bagged one seat each. So far, 27 results have been announced.
The Chief Minister lost the North Champai seat to Congress opponent and a first-timer T.T. Zothansanga by 1,248 votes.
“This is a verdict for change and a big snub to the 10-year-old misrule and corruption of the MNF government,” Lalthanhawla, the Congress chief ministerial candidate, told IANS.
“We are committed to providing a stable government with our focus on development and well being of the people.”
The Congress party has already announced Lalthanhawla’s candidature for the chief minister’s post although it would be formalized after a meeting of the winning legislators on Tuesday. The MNF accepted defeat.
“We accept the mandate and would work like a responsible opposition,” outgoing chief minister Zoramthanga said.
The former three-time chief minister and Congress leader Lalthanhawla won both the seats he contested winning the South Tipui seat against F. Lalthanzuala of the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) by 96 votes and the Serchhip assembly seat by 952 votes.
P.C. Lalthanliana of the Congress won the Lunglei North seat defeating his nearest MNF rival by 705 votes, while Congress candidate R.L. Pianmawia won the Tuivawl seat. He defeated his MNF rival by 473 votes.
Congress candidate R. Lalzirliana won the Tawi seat defeating his nearest MNF candidate by 1,211 votes. In the Turial seat, Hminhdailova Khiangte of the Congress party defeated his MNF rival by 1,022 votes. Congress candidate H. Liansailova won the Aizawl North seat defeating his MNF rival by 266 votes.
Nihar Kanti Chakma of the Congress party defeated his nearest MNF rival in the West Tuipui seat by 1,540 votes, while S. Hiato of the same party won the Saiha seat beating his MNF rival.
Congress candidate L. Ralte won the Hachhek seat defeating his MNF rival. Meanwhile, victory celebrations have erupted with jubilant Congress supporters dancing and singing on the streets.
“This is a great victory as the MNF government swindled millions of rupees in central funds meant for Mizoram’s development. The MNF government was indulging in rampant corruption and the people gave them a fitting reply in the vote,” said T. Sailo, a Congress supporter.
The MNF was in power in Mizoram for the last two terms.
In the last assembly elections held in 2003, the ruling MNF secured 21 seats while Congress bagged 12 and seven went to other smaller parties.
“On the surface, there were no frontrunners in the elections although a strong anti-incumbency wave was brewing. There were indications in the run up to the polls that it could be a hung assembly, but the thumping Congress victory has surprised even the party leaders,” M. Lalthingliana, a community elder, said.