Zoram People’s Movement leader Lalduhoma was sworn in as the Mizoram Chief Minister, along with a council of 11 ministers, at a function at Raj Bhavan on Friday. Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati administered the oath of office and secrecy to the ministers. Lalduhoma is the first non-Congress, non-Mizo National Front Chief Minister of Mizoram since its formation in 1987. Earlier this week, he was elected the ZPM Legislature Party leader while working president K Sapdanga was elected deputy leader.
Of the 11 Council of Ministers, eight have been sworn in as Cabinet Ministers and four as Ministers of State. All of them are first-time ministers.
Addressing a press conference soon after the swearing-in ceremony here, Lalduhoma announced 12 priority programmes of his government to be implemented in the next 100 days. “Our Zoram People’s Movement government will buy four local products from farmers such as ginger, turmeric, chilli and broomsticks by fixing minimum prices. Farmers will have the choice to sell their products on their own or to the government. This is our topmost priority,” he said.
The former IPS officer-turned-politician said his government will also accord priority to anti-corruption measures and will invite the CBI to probe graft cases in the state. Among the 12 priorities, Lalduhoma said his government will form a monitoring committee to keep tabs on all development projects across the state.
Lalduhoma himself will be in charge of finance, planning and programme implementation, general administration, policy and cabinet, and law and judicial departments. Sapdanga, who is the owner of Mizoram’s largest circulated daily Vanglaini, will hold home, urban development and poverty alleviation, personnel and administrative reforms, and disaster management and rehabilitation departments.
The only woman member of the Cabinet, Lalrinpuii, has been given charge of health and family welfare, social welfare and tribal affairs, women and child development and tourism departments. A first time MLA, 56-year-old Lalrinpuii was elected from the Lunglei East constituency and is one of three women who were elected to the Assembly.
Also included in the Council of Ministers is Lalthansanga, who emerged as a giant slayer by defeating former Chief Minister Zoramthanga from the Aizawl East-I constituency.
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Some of the candidates who were elected in 2018 as Independents with the ZPM’s backing — Vanlalhlana, C Lalsawivunga and Dr Vanlalthlana — have also been included in the Cabinet.Another addition is joint editor of Vanglaini and All India Football Federation executive member Lalghinglova Hmar, who has taken oath as Minister of State.
Sukrita Baruah is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in Guwahati. From this strategic hub, she provides comprehensive, ground-level coverage of India's North East, a region characterized by its complex ethnic diversity, geopolitical significance, and unique developmental challenges.
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