Mizoram opposition parties Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) and Congress on Friday announced candidates for the upcoming polls to the lone Rajya Sabha seat slated for June 19.
The meeting of ZPM political affairs committee (Extended) on Friday unanimously projected party general secretary in charge of frontal, B Lalchhanzova as the party nominee for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls, a statement issued by party secretary general K. Sapdanga said.
B Lalchhanzova had unsuccessfully contested the last state assembly polls in November 2018 and lost the Aizawl East-II seat to the Mizo National Front (MNF) nominee Robert Romawia Royte, who is now minister of state for sports, tourism and information & communication technology at chief minister Zoramthanga’s cabinet.
Chaired by party president Lal Thanhawla, the Congress political affairs committee and legislature party meeting on Friday also nominated Congress political affairs committee member PC Zoram Sangliana as the party contenders for the lone Rajya Sabha seat, Congress spokesperson Dr Lallianchhunga said.
Former Congress general secretary Zoram Sangliana had successfully contested the state assembly polls in 1987, 1989, 1993 and 2008.
He was the state’s art and culture and transport minister in Lal Thanhawla’s cabinet for one term during 2008-2013.
On Thursday, the ruling MNF had nominated former party youth wing president K. Vanlalvena as the party candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls.
In the present 40-member assembly, the ruling MNF has 27 members followed by opposition ZMP with 7 members.
The Congress and BJP have 5 and 1 members respectively.
Election to the lone Rajya Sabha seat in Mizoram will be held on June 19 along with 23 seats in nine states, including three from Northeast- Manipur, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh.
The term of the present member Ronal Sapa Tlau of Congress will expire on July 18.
The last date for filing nomination papers is fixed on June 9.
While scrutiny of nomination papers would be undertaken on June 10, the last date for withdrawal of candidature is fixed on June 12.
Counting of votes will be held on June 19.