In a dramatic political shift, the Mizo National Front (MNF) has abruptly pulled out of its governing alliance in the Lai Autonomous District Council (LADC), plunging the council into uncertainty just before a key leadership election.
Alliance Collapses Ahead of Chairman Election
The MNF formally announced its withdrawal from the Lairam Legislature Party (LLP) on Tuesday. The party submitted a letter to Governor General Vijay Kumar Singh, severing the partnership it had formed with the Zoram People's Movement (ZPM). The letter was signed by MNF general secretary for district council affairs, R Rohmingliana.
The stated reason for the sudden exit was "political problems" within the alliance. This development critically destabilizes the LLP, which was formed on December 14 as a post-poll coalition between the ZPM and MNF. Following its formation, the alliance had successfully elected ZPM's T Zakunga as its leader and staked its claim to form the executive committee of the LADC on December 15.
Background of the Political Upheaval
The MNF's decision to leave the ZPM-led bloc follows another significant alliance breakdown. Earlier, the Congress party had decided to end its pre-poll alliance with the MNF. These successive fractures highlight the volatile and fluid nature of political equations in the autonomous district council.
The timing of the MNF's withdrawal is particularly crucial, as it comes on the eve of the election for the LADC chairman's post. On Tuesday, nominations were filed for this pivotal position. The contenders are MNF nominee Sanghuliana Mualchin and Congress member H Vanlaltanpuia. The election is scheduled for Wednesday.
Implications and Next Steps
This political maneuver throws the future of the executive committee into question and sets the stage for a potentially contentious chairman election. The collapse of the LLP alliance means the power dynamics within the council are now wide open, with parties likely scrambling to form new equations.
The situation underscores the complex and often unpredictable nature of coalition politics in Mizoram's autonomous district councils. All eyes are now on the chairman election and the subsequent moves by the ZPM, MNF, and Congress to navigate this fresh crisis in the Lai Autonomous District Council.
