Mizoram Assembly Elections: Expelled Congress leader R Lalzirliana to join MNF party

Former Mizoram home minister R Lalzirliana, who was expelled from the Congress party last month is set to join the Mizo National Front (MNF) party, according to reports.

The former Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) vice-president submitted his resignation as legislator to state legislative assembly secretary S R Zokhuma on Friday.

“The MNF has a slogan – ‘For God and our country’. The Congress party has the habit of mentioning God but the MNF has been walking with God. I have made a decision that I too, should walk the talk, unlike the party who had sacked me,” R Lalzirliana told reporters.

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Lalzirliana, one of the most trusted aides of chief minister Lal Thanhawla, was expelled from the ruling Congress party on September 17 after which he announced his intention to join the Opposition MNF party.

On September 6, the Congress disciplinary action committee served show cause notice to former home minister Lalzirliana questioning his loyalty to the party. However, instead of replying to the show cause notice which he termed as baseless, the Tawi constituency MLA resigned from the post of Mizoram home minister and eventually axed him from the party.

Lalzirliana, the Tawi AC legislator for four terms, played a major role as initiator between the Mizoram government and Hmar People’s Convention (D) outfit peace treaty, which saw massive development in law and security of the state.

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Meanwhile, according to reports, MNF is willing to allot Lalzirliana as party’s official candidature for Tawi AC for November 28 polls if the former Congress leader joins them.

On the other hand, the Congress has already fielded Rosiamngheta, former councillor of the Aizawl Municipal Council as the official candidate of Tawi AC for the state assembly elections.

Mizoram will go polls on November 28.