Jolt to Congress, Mizoram Home Minister R Lalzirliana quits party days after show cause notice

In what could be a major set back for the Congress ahead of the upcoming Mizoram elections, state home minister R Lalzirliana on Friday announced his resignation from the Lal Thanhawla cabinet, official sources said.

The move comes two days after Lalzirliana, who is also the Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee vice-president, was served a show cause notice by the MPCC disciplinary committee, over reports that he would join a rival party.

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The 69-year-old, accompanied by his supporters arrived at the chief minister’s office-cum-residence to put in his papers but Lal Thanhawla is out of town, the sources said adding, Lalzirliana handed over his resignation papers to Lalramthanga, the principal secretry to the chief minister.

Mizoram goes to polls in December, 2018 and the development has come as a setback for the Congress in the Northeastern state.               

Lalzirliana also held the portfolios of power and electricity, rural development and excise and narcotics portfolios.

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This is the second major loss for the Congress in the Northeast. Earlier in the day, four-time Megahalaya Chief Minister and veteran Congress leader DD Lapang resigned from the party citing All India Congress Committee’s policy of phasing out seniors in the party as the main reason behind his decision.

(With inputs from agencies)