K Laltluangkima of the ruling Zoram People’s Movement was on Thursday elected as the lone member of the Rajya Sabha in Mizoram, defeating BN candidate Xothhansangi Hamar by 16 votes in the state assembly elections.
The ZPM spokesperson secured 26 out of 36 votes and will succeed the outgoing MNF MP, K. Vanalvina, in the Senate of Parliament.
“As we said in the pre-election statements, promoting and strengthening food self-sufficiency and strengthening and securing state borders and regional security will be at the top of my list,” a statement from ZPM said.
Prime Minister Laldoma denied the opposition’s claims that there was a division in the selection of the party’s candidate. The Prime Minister said after casting his vote: “The opposition is trying to discredit the unity of our party’s leadership. I am not taking it seriously. It is the votes that will decide.”
“Two BJP MLAs and one from the Congress abstained from voting in the elections, while MLA W. Chhuanawma could not cast his vote due to illness for a long time. We made a request to the state election officials to grant him the right to vote at home, but the request was rejected,” said KJ Lalbiakngheta, polling agent for Rajya Sabha member-elect and general secretary of ZPM.
Newly elected Rajya Sabha member from Mizoram, K. Laltluangkima is a prominent political figure in the state. He currently serves as the spokesperson for the ruling ZPM party, which has a clear majority with 27 legislators in the 40-member Mizoram Legislative Assembly.
