Congress asks Mizoram CM Lal Thanhawla not to accept minister's resignation

AIZAWL: The ruling Congress in Mizoram today asked state Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla not to accept the resignation of Health Minister Lal Thanzara, who quit in the wake of Opposition charge that he was involved in "office of profit" scam.

A meeting of Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee, held immediately after Lal Thanzara's resignation, expressed shock over the development, a party statement said.

It said the meeting objected to the letter submitted by Lal Thanzara to the Chief Minister and state Assembly Speaker, announcing his resignation as a Minister of State as well as a legislator.

A party delegation met Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla and asked him not to accept the resignation of Lal Thanzara, the statement said. It added that Lal Thanhawla assured the delegation that he would give careful consideration to the appeals made by them.

Thanzara, the younger brother of the Chief Minister, said that he decided to step down as the charges against him, though baseless and false, may cause embarrassment to the government and the party.

He denied the allegations by the Opposition that he received pecuniary benefits from a construction company working under the state government.

Leaders of the party's organisations like Aizawl District Congress Committee, Mizoram Pradesh Youth Congress Committee, Mahila Congress, National Students Union of India and Congress Elders Wing attended the party meeting which deliberated the issue.