Mizoram assembly speaker Lalrinliana Sailo resigns; set to join BJP

Guwahati: Ahead of the assembly elections in Mizoram, Mizo National Front (MNF) legislator and speaker of assembly Lalrinliana Sailo resigned on Wednesday. He is set to join the BJP.

Sailo submitted his resignation letter to the assembly deputy speaker H Biakzaua requesting him to accept it. Sailo said that he would soon join the BJP and contest the assembly polls on the saffron party's ticket. "I am quitting the MNF party and joining the BJP for the all-round development of Mizoram. As BJP is now at the Centre, Mizoram needs support and funding from the Union government," Sailo told the media.

The move from Sailo comes as he is miffed with the MNF as the party finalised candidates for all the 40 assembly seats last month and denied ticket to him. Sailo was earlier with the Congress. He won four times from Chalfilh assembly constituency.


He is likely to formally join the BJP on Thursday.

Elections to the 40-member Mizoram Assembly will be held in a single phase on November 7. Votes will be counted on December 3.

In the present assembly, as many as eight MLAs have resigned so far. Five independent MLAs of Mizoram also tendered their resignations on Tuesday.

The five who resigned are V L Zaithanzama of Aizawl West-III constituency, Vanlalthlana of Aizawl North-II, Lalchhuanthanga of Aizawl South II, C Lalsawivunga of Aizawl South-I and Vanlalhlana of Aizawl North-I constituency.

These MLAs belonged to Zoram People's Movement (ZPM), however, in 2018, they had contested as Independent candidates. The ZPM is not registered as a political party.

Following the resignations, these MLAs will be able to file nominations as ZPM nominees. Congress MLA K T Rokhaw and former minister K Beichhua have also resigned as MLAs. While Rokhaw joined the MNF, Beichhua was expelled from MNF after which he joined the BJP.

The MNF also fielded all the incumbent legislators except home minister Lalchamliana, who opted not to contest and give room to youngsters this time. The party has given tickets to 15 new faces for the assembly polls.