Aizawl, April 05: Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) has won the first municipal polls in Lunglei town in south Mizoram, and Lalzuithanga, a 62-year-old retired school teacher, has been unanimously chosen to head the Lunglei Municipal Council (LMC) as chairman. K Lalrinawma from Ward VII has been appointed as the vice-chairman. The date for the swearing-in ceremony is yet to be announced by the concerned department.
Lunglei deputy commissioner Ramdinliani said that the date for swearing-in of the first LMC is yet to be announced.
In the polls held on March 29, ZPM won all 11 seats of the LMC, inflicting a crushing defeat on the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) headed by chief minister Zoramthanga. Lalzuithanga defeated his nearest opponent F.
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Lalzuithanga, who retired as a school teacher in 2021, defeated his nearest opponent F. Lalsawmkima of MNF by a margin of 456 votes.
Lalsawmkima of MNF by a margin of 456 votes. The ZPM secured 49.31% of the total votes polled, while the MNF got 29.4% of the votes. The Congress secured 20% of the votes, and the BJP managed to get only 0.75% of the total votes polled.
A total of 74.26% voter turnout was recorded in the first LMC polls, with 42 contenders, including 16 women, from four political parties contesting. The LMC covers four assembly constituencies currently ruled by MNF, and elections to the 40-member Mizoram assembly are due later this year.
In the last assembly polls held in November 2018, ZPM won 8 seats with its chief ministerial candidate Lalduhoma winning two seats. Later, the party lost Aizawl West-I and Tuirial seats in the assembly polls, reducing the party’s tally to 6 in the state assembly. The MNF has 28 members, while the Congress and BJP have 5 and 1 respectively in the present assembly.
