In a significant political development in Mizoram, Chief Minister Lalduhoma has refused to accept the resignation of his finance adviser TBC Lalvenchhunga, creating speculation about internal dynamics within the ruling Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) coalition.
Unexpected Resignation Submission
TBC Lalvenchhunga, the adviser to the chief minister on finance, submitted his resignation letter to CM Lalduhoma on Monday afternoon at the Chief Minister's Office in Aizawl. The CM's office confirmed receiving the resignation document but provided no clarification about the reasons behind this sudden political move.
The timing of the resignation added to the political drama, occurring during the oath-taking ceremony of R Lalthangliana as a legislator. Chief Minister Lalduhoma, speaking on the sidelines of this ceremony, made his position clear by stating that he does not accept Lalvenchhunga's resignation.
Political Speculation and Background
While the specific reasons for Lalvenchhunga's decision to step down remain officially undisclosed, political circles in Mizoram are buzzing with speculation about potential internal discord within the ruling ZPM alliance. The Zoram People's Movement, established in 2017, represents a coalition of several parties including the Zoram Nationalist Party and Mizoram People's Conference, along with other smaller groups under the Zoram Exodus Movement.
This political entity emerged as an alternative to the two dominant forces in Mizoram politics - the Congress and MNF (Mizo National Front), which have controlled the state's political landscape since Mizoram achieved statehood in 1987.
Lalvenchhunga's Political Journey
TBC Lalvenchhunga, a retired officer of the Indian Navy, has experienced a remarkable political ascent, particularly after joining the ZPM. His political career began with the 2018 state assembly election when he contested from the Champhai North constituency under a PRISM ticket, though he finished in sixth position.
His political fortunes changed dramatically in the 2023 state assembly polls when he secured victory as a ZPM candidate from the Aizawl West-1 assembly seat. Lalvenchhunga won impressively with 49.68% of the votes, defeating the incumbent MNF legislator Zothantluanga by a substantial margin of 4,667 votes.
Following this electoral success, he was appointed as the adviser to the chief minister on finance and was widely considered to be very close to Chief Minister Lalduhoma, making his resignation attempt particularly surprising to political observers.
The Chief Minister's rejection of the resignation indicates the continuing political significance of Lalvenchhunga within the ZPM government and suggests ongoing negotiations behind the scenes in Mizoram's political landscape.
