The Congress today wrested power from the Mizo National Front (MNF) in Mizoram with thumping victory in the Assembly election.
A resurgent Congress, led by former chief minister Lal Thanhawla, has won 32 seats in the 40-member Mizoram Assembly that has firmly signalled the MNF's 10-year-long tenure in the tiny hill state in the Northeast.
As the Congress swept the polls riding the anti-incumbency wave against the ruling MNF that faced allegation of rampant corruption, lack of development and nepotism, former Chief Minister and Congress heavy weight Lal Thanhawla won from both the constituencies Tuipui South and Serchhip.
In contrast, chief minister and MNF president Zoramthanga lost both the seats -- Champhai North and Champhai South --to his Congress rivals. So was the fate of all the MNF heavy weights.
The Assembly polls left the MNF with only four representatives in Mizoram Assembly. The party had 21 MLAs in the last Assembly. The MNF ally, Mara Democratic Front (MDF) managed to win only one seat.
The non-Congress, non-MNF, United Democratic Alliance (UDA), has also been swept to oblivion by the pro-Congress wave.
The only consolation for the UDA is victory of 86-year-old former chief minister and war veteran, Brigadier T Sailo of Mizoram People's Conference (MPC). He won from the prestigious Aizawl West II seat.
A jubilant Lal Thanhawla attributed Congress' victory to people's clamour for a respite from the corrupt regime of the MNF that failed to deliver during the last ten years. Mr Thanhawla is all set to stake claim to form the next government in the state.
