Lalduhoma as Mizoram CM, ZPM in power: What you need to know about the man and the party

Lalduhoma, a former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, is poised to become the Chief Minister of Mizoram as the Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) gains has clinched the 2023 assembly elections by winning 27 out of 40 seats in the state.

The Mizo National Front (MNF) has won 10 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won in two constituencies, and the Congress got just one seat.

Who is Lalduhoma?

Initial years

• Lalduhoma's career in the IPS started with postings in Goa and eventually becoming the in-charge of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s security.
• The political journey of the 74-year-old politician started in 1984 when he joined the Indian National Congress (INC), after being discharged from his duties in New Delhi.

Joins INC

• He later went on to become the President of Mizoram INC.
• Known for his dedication to peace talks, Lalduhoma played an important role in negotiating with the Mizo National Front (MNF) (then a secessionist organisation) and its leader Laldenga.
• The talks led to contributing to INC's success in the 1984 Legislative Assembly election.

Post INC

• Later, Lalduhoma's political evolution saw him resign from the INC, leading to his disqualification under the anti-defection law in 1988.
• He was the first MP to be disqualified under the Anti-Defection law brought in by the 52nd Constitutional Amendment in 1985, in the backdrop of that aaya ram-gaya ram phase.
• Undeterred, he founded the Mizo National Union (MNU) in 1986, which later merged with the Mizoram People's Conference.
• Eventually, he established the Zoram Nationalist Party in 1997.

ZPM established

• Under Lalduhoma's leadership, ZNP evolved into the ZPM, a political alliance consisting of six parties: Mizoram People's Conference, Zoram Nationalist Party, Zoram Exodus Movement, Zoram Decentralisation Front, Zoram Reformation Front, and Mizoram People's Party.
• In 2020, he faced disqualification as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) due to a violation of the anti-defection law.
• However, he successfully secured victory in the subsequent by-election for the Serchhip seat in 2021.

ZPM's vision

• Founded in 2017 and officially registered in 2019, ZPM emerged as a formidable force, winning six out of 40 seats in the 2018 Mizoram assembly elections.
• ZPM's core principles revolve around expanding secularism, safeguarding regional minorities, and addressing issues such as corruption.
• Lalduhoma's leadership and political acumen have propelled ZPM into a position where it could potentially take control of the Mizoram government.

• The ZPM sought to bring in a new perspective before it jumped into the 2023 elections.
• ZPM aims to reimpose the ban on liquor in Mizoram, a key priority for the party.
• The key ideologies of secularism, Christian rights and other minority rights formed the base of its wide acceptance in the state with more than 98% population following Christianity.

• According to ZPM MLA, Dr Vanlalthlana, the BJP's treatment of Manipur became the sole reason why they did not ally with them.
• Although the incumbent MNF is an ally of the ruling NDA in the centre, this time it stayed away from the BJP, owing to the crisis in Manipur.
• ZPM banked on votes from the youth as well and set a narrative against corrupt practices by the Zoramthanga-led incumbent government.
• Unemployment, drug trafficking and poor infrastructure were also some of the key issues raised by the ZPM in the 2023 assembly election.