Mizoram’s lone BJP legislator Budhha Dhan Chakma has tested positive for novel coronavirus, official sources said on Sunday.
He was among 35 people, who were found diagnosed with the virus in the last 24 hours, the sources added.
Chakma is the first and only legislator in Mizoram to have tested positive for the deadly virus.
“I am very surprised that I have tested positive for novel coronavirus. But I am asymptomatic and am doing very well. Luckily, all my other family members have tested negative for the virus,” the 47-year-old leader said.
He said he will be shifted to Zoram Medical College (ZMC) to undergo treatment.
“I ask the health department to shift me to ZMC as being a Covid-19 patient it is not safe to be at home. I hope I will be shifted to the medical college on Sunday evening,” he said.
Formerly a Congress member, Chakma was a minister of state for sericulture and fisheries in the erstwhile Lal Thanhawla’s cabinet.
In October 2017, he resigned as a minister in protest against the denial of medical seats to four Chakma students who have qualified in the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) and quitted Congress party.
Later, he joined BJP and won the Tuichawng assembly seat on the party ticket in the last assembly poll held in November 2018.
Mizoram on Sunday reported 35 new COVID-19 cases, taking the state’s tally to 1,414.
There are 584 active patients in the state while a total of 830 people have already recovered.
The Northeastern state has not reported any fatality due to Covid-19.