Lal Thanhawla sworn-in as Mizoram Chief Minister

AIZAWL: Lal Thanhawla, who steered Congress to a landslide victory in Mizoram, was sworn-in as Chief Minister by Governor Vakkom Purushothaman on Saturday.

He was sworn-in and administered oath of office along with his 11-member council of ministers at the Raj Bhavan here.

This is Lal Thanhawla's second consecutive term and the fifth overall term as chief minister.

Of the 11 ministers sworn-in today seven are of cabinet rank and the rest are ministers of state.

Two cabinet ministers R Romawia and John Rotluangliana are new faces. They served as speaker and deputy speaker respectively in the previous ministry.

The other cabinet ministers are R Lalzirliana, Lalsawta, H Rohluna, Zodintluanga and P C Lalthanliana. The ministers of state are Lalrinmawia Ralte, C Ngunlianchunga, Lal Thanzara and B D Chakma are ministers of state.

Lalthanliana was a minister of state in the previous ministry, while Lal Thanzara, who is the brother of the chief minister, was a parliamentary secretary as was Lalrinmawia Ralte.

The other two ministers of state are fresh faces in the house.

Mizoram bucked the trend in the last round of assembly elections in five states with Congress retaining power by winning 34 of the 40 seats in the house, polls for which were held on November 25.