Aizawl, Jun 18 (PTI) Mizoram’s ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) on Thursday secured its first-ever representation in the Rajya Sabha as party leader K Laltluangkima won the election to the lone Upper House seat from the state.
Laltluangkima secured 26 of the 36 votes polled, defeating Zothansangi Hmar of the opposition Mizo National Front (MNF), who received all 10 votes cast by her party’s legislators, according to Assembly Secretary and Returning Officer Zothansanga Ralte.
Three legislators abstained from voting, including BJP MLAs K Beichhua and K Hrahmo, as well as lone Congress legislator C Ngunlianchunga.
ZPM legislator W Chhuanawma was unable to vote due to health reasons, Ralte said.
In the 40-member Mizoram Assembly, the ZPM holds 27 seats, followed by the MNF with 10, while the BJP and Congress have two and one legislators, respectively.
The victory marks a significant political milestone for the ZPM, which was founded in 2017.
Laltluangkima became the party’s first Rajya Sabha member and the eighth person from Mizoram to be elected to the Upper House since 1972, when the state was still a Union territory.
Historically, the Congress has won the Rajya Sabha seat six times with former MP Hiphei serving two consecutive terms between 1990 and 2002, while the MNF won the seat three times, with Lalhmingliana serving two consecutive terms from 2002 to 2014.
The outgoing Rajya Sabha member is K Vanlalvena of the MNF.
Born in October 1963, Laltluangkima holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from St Anthony’s College, and later pursued Christian Communication Studies at Trinity and All Saints College in England.
He also earned a Master’s degree in Plumbing from an institution in Maryland, USA.
Before entering politics, he served for 12 years as Manager of the Synod Electronic Communication Department of the Mizoram Presbyterian Church.
He was also the founder of Kristian Naupang, a children’s magazine published by the church.
Laltluangkima joined active politics in 1997 through the MNF (Nationalist), which later was rechristened as the Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) founded by Lalduhoma.
He first contested the Assembly election from Bilkhawthlir constituency in 1998 but lost to MNF candidate Lalchamliana by a margin of 1,256 votes.
He currently serves as member secretary of the ZPM’s Political Affairs Committee and is also the party’s official spokesperson. PTI CORR ACD
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