BY PC Bureau
December 9, 2025 — In a dramatic political upset, the ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) today lost its grip over the Lai Autonomous District Council (LADC), with the MNF-Congress pre-poll alliance sweeping to power and shattering the party’s dominance across Mizoram’s three autonomous councils.
The MNF bagged 8 seats and the Congress 7, securing a comfortable 15-seat majority in the 25-member council. The ZPM, which had held the LADC since 2020, won just 6 seats. The BJP secured 2 seats, while Independents picked up the remaining 2.
The verdict is being read as a personal setback for Chief Minister Lalduhoma — himself a Lai — since the LADC spans six assembly constituencies where the ZPM had made a near-clean sweep in 2023. That year, the party had won five of these six seats — Tuichawng, Lawngtlai East, Chawngte, Thorang, and West Tuipui — losing only Lawngtlai West to the MNF.
Covering all of Lawngtlai district and parts of Lunglei district, the LADC is considered the ZPM’s southern stronghold. Monday’s results, analysts say, reflect growing dissatisfaction in the Lai belt and could dent the ZPM’s aura of invincibility ahead of the 2028 assembly elections.
Celebrations broke out at MNF offices in Lawngtlai as the alliance crossed the majority mark. Senior MNF leader and former minister Dr K. Beichhua told reporters, “The people of Lai district have rejected the ZPM’s misrule and voted for change. We thank the Congress for the honourable seat-sharing and the voters for their trust.”
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The December 3 election saw a high 83.99% turnout, with 56,873 votes cast. MNF leaders said the alliance was poised to form the new executive committee before the current council’s term ends on December 18.
Congress state president Lalsawta hailed the outcome as “a new beginning” for the party after its marginalisation following the 2023 assembly rout.
ZPM working president and state minister K. Lalrinliana conceded the defeat was “unexpected and painful,” adding that the party would “introspect and return stronger.”
Several prominent ZPM sitting MDCs, including former CEM V. Zakhuma, also lost their seats.
This is the first time since 2020 that the ZPM has lost control of any of Mizoram’s three autonomous district councils. Observers say the result could mark the first signs of anti-incumbency against Lalduhoma’s two-year-old government, especially in the southern Lai-inhabited belt.
