ZPM spokesperson K. Laltluangkima won Mizoram’s lone Rajya Sabha seat, defeating MNF candidate Zothansangi Hmar by 16 votes. The victory marks the first-ever Rajya Sabha representation for the ruling Zoram People’s Movement. BJP and Congress abstained, while Chief Minister Lalduhoma dismissed claims of internal party divisions.
In a political milestone for the ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), party spokesperson K. Laltluangkima on Thursday emerged victorious in the election to Mizoram’s lone Rajya Sabha seat. He defeated opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) nominee Zothansangi Hmar by a margin of 16 votes, securing the ZPM’s first-ever representation in the Upper House of Parliament.
The Rajya Sabha election witnessed a straightforward contest between the ruling ZPM and the opposition MNF. Laltluangkima secured 26 votes, while Zothansangi Hmar, a noted writer and lawyer, received all 10 votes cast by MNF legislators.
The result was formally announced by Returning Officer Zothansanga Ralte, who also serves as the Commissioner and Secretary of the Mizoram Legislative Assembly, following the completion of vote counting.
The election process commenced at 9 a.m. at the Mizoram Assembly complex and concluded at 11 a.m., earlier than the scheduled closing time of 4 p.m. due to all participating legislators having cast their votes. Notably, both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress abstained from the voting process.
According to officials, 26 of the 27 ZPM legislators, including Chief Minister Lalduhoma, exercised their franchise. The only absentee from the ruling party was Tuichang MLA W. Chhuanawma, who could not participate because of health-related issues. All 10 legislators of the MNF cast their votes in support of their party’s nominee.
Following the voting, Chief Minister Lalduhoma strongly rejected allegations made by opposition leaders regarding internal divisions within the ruling ZPM. The opposition had claimed that dissatisfaction among some ZPM legislators could lead to cross-voting during the election.
Dismissing these assertions, Lalduhoma described them as a political strategy intended to create confusion among the public and divert attention from the actual political situation. He maintained that the ZPM remained united throughout the election process and that there was never any possibility of cross-voting by party legislators.
“The opposition has been making such allegations from the beginning. However, our legislators remained united, and the voting clearly reflects that unity,” the Chief Minister said.
Earlier, Leader of the Opposition and senior MNF legislator Lalchhandama Ralte had alleged that differences existed within the ruling party. However, the election outcome appeared to reinforce the ZPM leadership’s claim of internal cohesion.
Congress MLA C. Ngunlianchunga stated that he abstained from voting in accordance with instructions issued by the party high command. BJP media convener Johny Lalthanpuia also confirmed that the party’s two MLAs did not participate in the election.
The Rajya Sabha election was necessitated by the impending completion of the tenure of outgoing Rajya Sabha member K. Vanlalvena of the MNF, whose term is scheduled to end on July 19, 2026.
| Also Read: Mizoram CM Flags Off 219 New Police Vehicles |
In the 40-member Mizoram Assembly, the ZPM currently holds a comfortable majority with 27 MLAs, while the MNF has 10 members. The BJP and Congress hold two and one seats, respectively. Laltluangkima’s victory not only reflects the ruling party’s numerical strength in the Assembly but also marks a historic moment as the ZPM secures its first representation in the Rajya Sabha since coming to power in the state.
