Former IPS officer Lalduhoma, a maverick who led his fledgling party to an electoral victory against Zoramthanga’s MNF, was sworn in as the CM of a 12-member Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) government in Mizoram that includes the state’s first woman minister of cabinet rank in 61-year-old Lalrinpuii.
The new government has seven cabinet ministers and four ministers of state. Lalfamkima was appointed protem speaker of the 40-member assembly.
Lalduhoma (73), who spent much of his career bearing the cross of being India’s first MP to be disqualified under the anti-defection law, and his ministerial colleagues were endorsed by a committee of elders assigned to vet all crucial decisions of ZPM on the lines of how tribal societies operate.
Among the dignitaries present at the swearing-in were ex-CMs Zoramthanga and Lal Thanhawla of Congress, relegated to fourth place this election with a lone seat. BJP won two seats. All 10 newly elected MNF MLAs, including legislature party leader Lalchhandama Ralte, attended the event.
Soon after being sworn in by governor Hari Babu Kambhampati at Raj Bhavan, Lalduhoma announced 12 “priority programmes” for implementation over the next 100 days.
The new CM retained the finance, planning and programme implementation, general administration, political and cabinet, law and vigilance portfolios. Journalist-turned politician K Sapdanga will be the home minister, besides handling urban affairs and poverty alleviation, personal and administrative reform s, and disaster management and rehabilitation.