Former Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga and former deputy chief minister Tawnluia on February 20 submitted letters to R Rohmingliana, secretary of the Mizo National Front (MNF) party election nomination committee, not to consider their names in the coming MNF organisation elections.
The MNF’s organisational elections are scheduled to be held on March 15, with nominations to be filed from February 26 to 28.
Three-time chief minister and president of the MNF since 1990, after the demise of Laldenga on July 7, 1990, Zoramthanga (79) had earlier announced his intention not to contest the party polls.
Zoramthanga, while announcing his decision, also said that he held a discussion with senior vice president of the party, Tawnluia (80), who also made the same decision.
Zoramthanga was vice president of the erstwhile ‘Government of Mizoram’ under Laldenga, while Tawnluia was ‘army chief’ of the underground Mizo National Army, armed wing of the MNF, and was given the rank of ‘brigadier general’.
Other top party leaders, like vice president Vanlalzawma and party treasurer K Vanlalauva, had also announced their decision to refrain from contesting the MNF organisation elections.
While many MNF leaders hold Zoramthanga responsible for the debacle in the election to the 40-member state legislative assembly held on November 7 last, his resignation, owning moral responsibility for the electoral setback, was not accepted by the party high command.
However, many MNF workers expressed fear that the sudden simultaneous exit of Zoramthanga and Tawnluia may create a void in the party, resulting in severe infighting, which can trigger further downfall of the 63-year-old political party.
One MNF leader opined that Zoramthanga should continue to lead the party but refrain from seeking public office in the future, while another one said that he should not lead the party anymore to ensure the MNF regains power in future.
