Aizawl, Dec 10: Known for his adroitness in
politics, militant turned politician, Lal Thanhawla joined the
underground Mizo National Front (MNF) in 1966 after a brief
stint in government service.
In the MNF he held the posts of assistant home secretary
and Acting Foreign Secretary in the underground `government in
exile`.
He joined the Congress in 1967 to be appointed Chief
Organiser of the Aizawl District Congress Committee.
He was elected President of the state PCC in 1973 and
again in 1977 and was first elected as a legislator from the
Champhai seat in 1978. He won the seat again in 1979.
In 1984 he became the chief minister, but stepped down in
favour of Laldenga in 1986 to become deputy chief minister
after the latter signed the Mizo Accord and headed the interim
government.
He was again elected in 1987 from the Serchhip
constituency and was the leader of the opposition till he
toppled the MNF government led by Laldenga in 1988.
After the Congress won the 1989 assembly polls Lal
Thanhawla was made chief minister for a second time.
Lal Thanhawla won the 1993 assembly polls from Serchhip
and Zawlnuam seats after forging an alliance with the Mizoram
Janata Dal led by former chief minister Brig T Sailo.
However, he was defeated by a retired PWD
engineer-in-chief K Thangzuala in Serchhip in the 1998
assembly polls and has been in the opposition since then.
A journalist by profession, he edited `Mizo Aw`, a
vernacular daily and was the founder President of the Mizoram
Journalists Association (MJA).
Corruption cases against him arising out of a PIL
submitted in the Supreme Court by two church workers Rev
Zairema and Bualhranga are still pending in the court of the
special judge of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Born on May 9, 1942, Lal Thanhawla was brought up in
Zarkawt locality of Aizawl.
Married to Lal Riliani, he has three children.
Bureau Report
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