By NE NOW NEWS
Aizawl: Mizoram’s ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) on Thursday secured its first-ever representation in the Rajya Sabha with party leader K. Laltluangkima winning the election to the state’s lone Upper House seat.
Laltluangkima secured 26 votes out of the 36 votes polled, defeating opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) candidate Zothansangi Hmar, who received all 10 votes cast by her party’s legislators, Assembly Secretary and Returning Officer Zothansanga Ralte said.
Three legislators abstained from voting, including BJP MLAs Dr K. Beichhua and K. Hrahmo, and lone Congress MLA C. Ngunlianchunga. ZPM legislator W. Chhuanawma was unable to cast his vote due to health reasons.
The victory gives the ZPM, founded in 2017, its maiden representation in the Rajya Sabha. Laltluangkima also became the eighth person from Mizoram to be elected to the Upper House since 1972, when the state was still a Union Territory.
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 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 in England. He also earned a Master’s degree in Plumbing from an institution in Maryland, United States.
Before entering politics, he served for 12 years as manager of the Synod Electronic Communication Department of the Mizoram Presbyterian Church and founded the children’s magazine Kristian Naupang.
Laltluangkima entered active politics in 1997 through the MNF (Nationalist), which later evolved into the Zoram Nationalist Party founded by Lalduhoma. He currently serves as member secretary of the ZPM’s Political Affairs Committee and is the party’s official spokesperson.