In a significant political development, the formation of the 12th Lai Autonomous District Council (LADC) in Mizoram has been abruptly halted. Governor Gen Vijay Kumar Singh has declared all previous steps towards constituting the council's executive committee as null and void. This decision comes directly after the Mizo National Front (MNF) officially withdrew from the Lairam Legislature Party (LLP), a crucial alliance that was the foundation for the council's formation.
Governor's Directive Cancels Previous Arrangements
On Tuesday evening, the Governor's office issued clear instructions through Additional Secretary Joseph Lalrinawma. In an official letter to the Secretary for District Council & Minority Affairs, Lalrinawma conveyed that all actions taken to form the 12th LADC are now cancelled. This includes the appointment of Lallura Chinzah as the protem chairperson, the summoning of the first council sitting scheduled for Wednesday, January 7, and the planned election for the chairperson's post. The department was asked to issue a formal notification to this effect immediately.
The process had initially moved forward based on the creation of the LLP, which comprised 8 MDCs (Members of District Council) from the MNF and 6 MDCs from the Zoram People's Movement (ZPM). Relying on this coalition, Governor Singh had appointed Chinzah as protem chairman following a proposal from T Zakunga, the leader of the LLP.
Alliance Collapse Triggers Political Crisis
The entire process unraveled when the MNF formally pulled out of the LLP on Tuesday. The withdrawal stripped the alliance of its absolute majority in the 25-member council, creating a situation of political uncertainty. According to MNF leaders, the decision to exit stemmed from deep dissatisfaction among their MDCs regarding the distribution of key posts within the proposed executive committee.
Under the LLP arrangement negotiated by Zakunga, the ZPM was set to secure the top post of Chief Executive Member (CEM) along with five Executive Member (EM) positions and four nominated members. The MNF, despite having more elected MDCs (8 vs ZPM's 6), was allotted the posts of Deputy Chief Executive Member (Dy CEM), Chairperson, and only three Executive Members. This perceived inequity in power-sharing led to the rebellion within the MNF ranks.
The eight disgruntled MNF MDCs later met with the party's high command, including president Zoramthanga in Aizawl, and agreed to follow the leadership's decision to withdraw from the pact.
Fragmented Mandate and Shifting Alliances
The current political deadlock has its roots in the fragmented results of the LADC elections held on December 3. No single party achieved a clear majority. The Congress party, which won 7 seats, had already terminated its pre-poll alliance with the MNF on December 11. Even with potential support from 2 BJP MDCs and 2 independents, the MNF's total of 8 seats fell short of the required majority.
Following the election, Congress attempted to forge a coalition executive committee with the ZPM under the leadership of C Ngunlianchunga, the lone Congress MLA in the state assembly. However, this proposal was rejected by certain factions within the ZPM. This rejection paved the way for the short-lived ZPM-MNF alliance under the LLP banner, which has now collapsed.
Insiders within the MNF now indicate that fresh negotiations are underway. The party is reportedly attempting to form an executive committee with support from the BJP and possibly some Congress MDCs. Political observers believe such a configuration might receive the backing of the Governor's office, offering a potential path out of the current impasse.
The series of meetings on January 5 added another layer to the political maneuvering. MNF president Zoramthanga met with a BJP representative in the morning before calling on Governor Singh in the afternoon. Later that same evening, MNF youth president Robert Romawia Royte also held a meeting with the Governor, signaling intense behind-the-scenes efforts to resolve the crisis.
