Aizawl: In a sudden turn of events, Mizoram’s ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) and the main opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) have joined hands to form the next executive body in the Lai Autonomous District Council (LADC), even as an agreement had earlier been signed between the ZPM and the Congress to form a coalition after the council polls.
Party sources said the ZPM and MNF on Sunday evening signed a post-poll agreement and formed a joint legislature party named the ‘Lairam Legislature Party’, to be headed by ZPM member from the Vawmbuk constituency, T. Zakunga.
There are 14 members in the Lairam Legislature Party belonging to both the ZPM and the MNF.
As per the agreement, the ZPM will get the post of Chief Executive Member (CEM) along with five Executive Members (EMs), while the MNF will get the Chairman’s post, the Deputy CEM’s post, and three Executive Members.
Other posts carrying EM rank will be filled by the two parties as per convenience, the agreement stated.
The LADC polls held on December 3 resulted in a hung house, as no party secured an absolute majority when the results were announced on December 9.
According to the poll results, the MNF, which fielded 20 candidates, emerged as the single largest party by winning eight seats, while the Congress, which contested 14 seats, finished second with seven seats.
Despite contesting all 25 seats, the ZPM managed to win only six seats, while the BJP, which fielded 10 candidates, bagged two seats.
Two Independent candidates, including former LADC Chief Executive Member V. Zirsanga, were also elected.
Initially, the MNF and the Congress had signed a pre-poll agreement, which was later snapped after the Congress alleged that the MNF had breached the agreement by attempting to horse-trade several elected members, including a Congress member.
This was followed by negotiations between the ZPM and the Congress to form a combined executive committee in the LADC.
Meanwhile, state Congress vice-president and MLA C. Ngunlianchhunga said the Congress had signed a post-poll agreement with the ZPM on December 10, according to which a joint legislature party called the Lairam Legislature Party (LLP) would be formed under his leadership. Ngunlianchhunga was also elected as an MDC in the recent LADC polls.
According to that agreement, the Congress was to get the CEM’s post along with four EM posts, while the ZPM was to get the Chairman’s post, the Deputy CEM’s post, and four EM posts, he said.
Ngunlianchhunga denied that the Congress had been betrayed by the ZPM and claimed that the post-poll agreement was still valid.