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States » EastPosted at: May 6 2025 11:31PM


Power struggle intensifies at Mizoram's Lai Council as rival factions clash over CEM post

Aizawl, May 6 (UNI) The political deadlock in the Lai Autonomous District Council (LADC) has deepened following conflicting claims over the Chief Executive Member (CEM) post, with the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) accusing the Governor of unconstitutional actions, while the BJP-MNF alliance defends the Governor’s decisions as constitutionally valid and necessary.
The latest controversy stems from the defection of two MDCs—N. Zangura of M. Kawnpui and B. N. Thangpuia of Sangau East—from the ruling ZPM to the BJP, a move that the ZPM claims has destabilised the government. In a strongly worded statement, the ZPM Lai District Headquarters expressed regret over what it termed a “power-hungry” political manoeuvre that has plunged the Council into turmoil just as it was expected to deliver stable governance.
The ZPM claims that V. Zirsanga, the incumbent CEM, still holds the position legally, and any attempt to replace him without following due constitutional procedures is invalid. According to the LADC CCB Rules, 2010, a CEM can only be removed through a written resignation or a No Confidence Motion. Zirsanga had been scheduled to face a trust vote on March 18, but the resignation of Chairman VL. Hmuaka and Deputy Chairman H. Lalmuansanga reportedly rendered the session inoperative.
In response, the ZPM-led government appointed C. Biakthansangi as Protem Chairman, and ZPM MDC T. Zakunga was elected uncontested as the new Chairman on March 26. However, the Governor’s fresh directive for a Vote of Confidence, issued after the 30-day constitutional limit, was seen by ZPM as lapsed and unjustified. They accuse the BJP of attempting to hijack power by misleading the Governor.
The situation escalated on April 22, when the Governor, through the District Council & Minority Affairs (DC & MA) Department, issued a new order for a trust vote, coinciding with the conclusion of an emergency Budget Session convened by Chairman Zakunga. The ZPM asserts that the session was lawfully conducted, resulting in the successful election of a Deputy Chairman and the passage of the Council Budget. The Governor’s subsequent move to invalidate the session’s outcomes was condemned by ZPM as unconstitutional and harmful to public welfare.
Meanwhile, the BJP and MNF, in a joint press statement, defended the Governor’s actions, asserting that the new CEM, N. Zangura, had already secured majority support and appeared before the Governor to stake his claim. They criticised Zirsanga’s refusal to step down despite allegedly losing the majority. The alliance also cited his past conviction in a corruption case and previous opposition to his leadership by civil society groups such as the Lai Students’ Association (LSA).
The BJP-MNF further alleged that the May 6 picketing of the LADC office and the Deputy Commissioner’s office by LSA General Headquarters was politically motivated and lacked support from the student body’s sub-units. They noted the low turnout, claiming only two students skipped class, and questioned the involvement of children related to ZPM MDCs.
The alliance also raised legal concerns, arguing that minors had been used unlawfully in the protest, in violation of the Juvenile Justice Act and the Indian Penal Code. They warned that organisers could face criminal charges under child protection laws and accused the LSA leadership of derailing from its core mission of promoting student welfare.
This latest flare-up comes against a backdrop of prolonged political uncertainty in the LADC. Since the 2023 LADC elections, the Council has seen fragile coalitions and repeated challenges to the leadership. ZPM initially emerged as the single largest party and formed the executive body, but internal cracks and defections have frequently undermined stability.
The role of the Governor has come under scrutiny throughout the crisis. While the Governor’s office maintains that all actions have been constitutionally sound, the ZPM accuses him of overreach and acting under pressure from the BJP-led government. The crisis has also polarised civil society, with the LSA now under fire for its political involvement.
With rival CEMs claiming authority—Zirsanga from ZPM and Zangura backed by BJP-MNF—the LADC remains in a constitutional grey area. As the legal and political dispute drags on, governance in the district stands paralysed, with pressing developmental and administrative matters left in limbo.
UNI ZS SJC
Tags: #Power struggle intensifies at Mizoram's Lai Council as rival factions clash over CEM post
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