Aizawl: In yet another development within the ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), the party’s senior vice president and MLA W. Chhuanawma has submitted a request for leave from his position in the party, citing persistent health concerns.
The development came at the same time as the party leadership assigned the charge of the presidency to Chief Minister Lalduhoma, who will occupy the party president’s office during the absence of standing party president Lalliansawta, who has gone on indefinite leave due to health issues.
In a letter addressed to the ZPM president on Wednesday (April 22), Chhuanawma, who is also the deputy chief whip in the present ZPM government, said that he had contemplated stepping back as early as last year but deferred the decision at the behest of the party leadership, who advised him to do so after the Aizawl Municipal Corporation (AMC) polls held on Monday (April 21).
“I have been unable to fully fulfill my responsibilities as senior vice president due to my health condition. As the AMC elections are over, I am now submitting my request for leave from my post,” the letter said.
Chhuanawma, a legislator from the Tuichang Assembly constituency, was elected as senior vice president of ZPM in the party’s first internal election held in February 2024.
Apart from him, the ruling party now has two nominated standing vice presidents.
Lalduhoma took charge as ZPM president, replacing Lalliansawta, on Wednesday, who has gone on leave for an unspecified period due to health concerns.
Meanwhile, ZPM’s General Administration Department general secretary Eddy Zosangliana Colney said that the party executive committee will meet on April 28 to deliberate on Chhuanawma’s leave application and decide whether or not to fill his post.
The ZPM was formed in 2017 as an electoral alliance of several minor parties, including the Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP), floated by Lalduhoma.
The party contested 35 seats in the 2018 Assembly polls and won 8 seats, with Lalduhoma winning two, Serchhip and Aizawl West-I.
In the subsequent by-elections, the party lost the Aizawl West-I and Tuirial seats to the Mizo National Front (MNF).
The ZPM was later formed into a single political party and received registration from the Election Commission in July 2019.
The party contested 40 seats in the last Assembly elections held in November 2023 and won 27 seats, unseating the incumbent MNF led by Zoramthanga, which secured 10 seats.