Aizawl: C Lalsawmzuala, leader of the United Legislature Party (ULP) in the Lai Autonomous District Council (LADC), won a vote of confidence on the floor of the council on Thursday.The confidence vote was held in the LADC hall in Lawngtlai town in south Mizoram, with C Lalmuanthanga, the council chairman, presiding. C Lalsawmzuala secured support from 15 members of district council (MDCs) in the 25-member house, while nine voted against him. He was backed by 14 ULP MDCs and independent MDC C Lalneihkhuma.
Mizoram governor Gen VK Singh appointed C Lalsawmzuala as chief executive member (CEM) on Jan 22. He was sworn in on Tuesday, with Lawngtlai deputy commissioner Donny Lalruatsanga administering the oath.The Dec 3 LADC election produced a fragmented mandate. The Mizo National Front (MNF) emerged as the largest party with eight seats, followed by the Congress with seven and the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) with six. The BJP won two seats and independents took two.Although the MNF and Congress had a pre-poll alliance, the Congress ended the arrangement on December 11, two days after results were declared. Congress and ZPM then moved to form a joint legislature party with Congress leader C Ngunlianchunga as leader, but the ZPM general headquarters in Aizawl rejected the move.On Dec 15, ZPM and MNF formed the Lairam Legislature Party (LLP) and staked claim to form the executive committee under ZPM leader T. Zakunga. The MNF later withdrew support from the LLP on Jan 6, disrupting Zakunga’s bid to form the executive committee.After weeks of consultations and a month-long impasse, MNF and Congress agreed to form a coalition executive committee under the ULP banner. The alliance, with 15 MDCs, staked claim to form the executive committee before the governor on Jan 9.
