Mizoram | A music lover, successful Chief Minister and more- all you need to know about Lal Thanhawla

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TNT News Desk | November 27, 2018

Lal Thanhawla or Pu Lal Thanhawla as he is popularly known in Mizoram is a nine time election contender Chief Minister of Mizoram belonging to the Indian National Congress (INC) party and holds a record as the CM elected for the most number of terms. His electoral constituencies are Serchhip and Hrangturzo.

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As Mizoram gears itself for 2018 Assembly Elections and the CM's chair awaits its worthy holder, we bring to you some facts about the present Chief minister of Mizoram Pu Lal Thanhawla:

#1 Lal Thanhawla is the son of Hmartawnphunga Sailo and Lalsawmliani Chawngthu. He completed matriculation in 1958.

#2 After his graduation in 1964, Lal Thanhawla started his career as Recorder in the office of Inspector of Schools under the Mizoram District Council, which was in turn under the Government of Assam. Subsequently he joined the Assam Co-operative Apex Bank as Assistant.

#3 In 1966, he joined the underground movement called Mizo National Front (MNF) as Foreign Secretary following which he was captured and imprisoned at Silchar jail.

#4 After being released from prison in 1967, he joined the Indian National Congress party where he was immediately appointed to the Chief Organiser of the Aizawl District Congress Committee.  Lal Thanhawla first became the chief minister of Mizoram in 1984 when under his leadership the party swept the assembly polls in the state.

In 1973, Lal Thanhawla, a music lover and the founder president of the Mizo Journalists Association, was elected the state Congress president.

#5 In 1986, when the Mizoram Peace Accord was signed between India and MNF, he stepped down from his office to make way for Pu Laldenga, the leader of MNF, to become the Chief Minister. This was part of the negotiation and settlement of the accord, and he was designated Deputy Chief Minister.

#6 In 1998 he lost the election, the only time since his political career started. He eventually reclaimed in the 2003 elections. Currently he is elected from both Serchhip and Hrangturzo constituencies.

He said that in the '60s when the Congress party was little known to the Mizos and the region was in the throes of food crisis and other scarcities, an inspired and idealist youth Lal Thanhawla set in motion what then appeared to be an impossible task – of building a solid base for the Congress party ruling at the national level.

In the 2013 Mizoram Assembly Elections, Thanhawla led the ruling Congress party to a victory winning 34 seats in the 40-member legislative assembly, two seats more than in the 2008 election.

Lal Thanhawla is the father of a son and two daughters, and his wife Lal Riliani is a social activist and a strong crusader against use of tobacco products in the state and the Northeast India.

Featured image courtesy: Lal Thanhawla with his wife Pi Lal Riliani (Photo: Malsawma Photography/Indian Photo Agency)