Mizoram: Lalzirliana expelled after he quits as Home Minister; Governor accepts resignation

Just three days after Mizoram Home Minister R Lalzirliana resigned from the post, he was expelled from the party by the state Congress on Monday for alleged "anti-party activities".

Lalzirliana had resigned from the Cabinet following he was served a show cause notice by the party’s Disciplinary Action Committee (DAC) over media reports of his defection to the Mizo National Front.

The former Home Minister, who was also a vice president of the party’s State section, was regarded as one of the influential Congress leaders in Mizoram after Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla.

Mizoram Governor Kummanam Rajasekharan Monday accepted the resignation of R Lalzirliana.

Lalzirliana, was an active member of the Lal Thanhawla-led ministry, held many portfolios such as rural development, home, power, narcotics, and excise.

C Lalpianthanga, the chairperson of the Disciplinary Action Committee of the MPCC by issuing a notice on Monday afternoon, expelled Lalzirliana.

C. Lalpianthanga, chairman of the disciplinary action committee of the Congress’s Mizoram State unit said: “We had to issue the expulsion order for the larger interest of the party and under the present circumstances.”

The Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) had on September 14 served a show-cause notice to Mr. Lalzirliana where it asked him to clarify several statements reportedly made by him to the local media that could ‘affect the integrity’ of the party.

As reported by Firstpost, Luizinho Faleiro, AICC general secretary and party in-charge for the northeastern states said, "It's an unfortunate incident ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in Mizoram. The decision has been made by the disciplinary committee of the Mizoram PCC. The committee had issued a show cause notice to Lalzirliana a week ago and asked for his explanation."

A speculation is going on in the local media nowadays that Mr. Lalzirliana may be set to join a rival party, which with all possibility might be the Mizo National Front (MNF). The MNF is a member of the North East Development Alliance of regional parties formed by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Sources in the Mizoram Congress revealed that there has been a conflict going on between Mizoram chief minister Lal Thanhawla, who is also the PCC president, and Lalzirliana, and the party leadership had shown no interest in fixing the dispute.