Mizo National Front
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Indian English Template:Infobox Indian political party
The Mizo National Front (Template:Small MNF) is a regional political party in Mizoram, India. MNF emerged from the Mizo National Famine Front, which was formed by Pu Laldenga to protest against the inaction of the Government of India towards the famine situation in the Mizo areas of the Assam state in 1959. It staged a major uprising in 1966, followed by years of underground activities. In 1986, it signed the Mizoram Accord with the Government of India, renouncing secession and violence. The MNF then began contesting elections and has formed state government in Mizoram three times. It is currently the state's opposition party, with its president, Zoramthanga, as the Former Chief Minister of Mizoram.<ref name="The Hindu Net Desk">Template:Cite news</ref>
OriginEdit
In 1958, the Mizo Hills were devastated by the Mautam, a cyclic phenomenon where the flowering of bamboo plants result in a plague of crop-eating rats, in turn causing a famine.<ref>Template:Citation</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Earlier in 1955, Mizo Cultural Society was formed, with Laldenga as its secretary. In March 1960, the name of the Mizo Cultural Society was changed to 'Mautam Front'.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> During the famine of 1959–1960, this society took lead in demanding relief and attracted the attention of all sections of the people. In September 1960, the Society adopted the name Mizo National Famine Front (MNFF).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":0">Template:Cite journal</ref> The MNFF gained considerable popularity as a large number of Mizo Youth assisted in transporting rice and other essential commodities to interior villages.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Underground movementEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} The MNFF, which was originally formed to help ease the immense sufferings of the people during the severe Mautam Famine in Mizoram, was converted into Mizo National Front (MNF) on 22 October 1961.<ref name="goswami2">Template:Cite journal</ref> The first OB leaders elected were, President Laldenga, Vice President JF Manliana, General Secy. R. Vanlawma, and Treasurer Rochhinga and the ways in which the Indian authority of the day handled the famine left the people disillusioned. The wave of secessionist and armed insurrection was running high among the Mizos. In 1966, MNF led a major uprising against the government, but failed to gain administrative control of the Mizo district.<ref name=":0" /> The secessionist movement held on for about two decades. During that time, they invaded Burma claiming Chin State and Tahan belong to Mizoram since most of the resident in Tahan are Mizo.<ref name="nunthara">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Peace settlementEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} This chapter of insurgency finally came to a close with the signing of the Mizoram Accord on 30 June 1986 between the underground government of the Mizo National Front and the Government of India. Under the terms of the peace accord, Mizoram was granted statehood in February 1987.<ref name="sharma">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Political partyEdit
In the resulting election, the Congress won, and the MNF would be in opposition until 1998. In 1990, Laldenga died, and was replaced by his former secretary and Finance Minister, Zoramthanga. In 1998 and 2003 MNF won the state assembly elections, and Zoramthanga was chief minister for 10 years.<ref name="anisha">Template:Cite news</ref> In the 2003 elections MNF won 21 out of 40 seats in the state assembly, and got 132 505 votes (31.66%).<ref name="zee2">Template:Cite news</ref> The party was routed by the Congress in the 2008 state election, winning just 3 seats.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It contested the 2013 state elections in alliance with the Mizoram People's Conference, and won 5 seats to the Congress's 34.<ref name="The Hindu Net Desk"/> In the 2018 state assembly elections, the MNF won 26 seats and returned to government.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The party lost power to the Zoram People's Movement during the 2023 state assembly elections.
Role in the national electionsEdit
For the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, it formed an alliance called United Democratic Front with seven other parties including BJP, to contest the only seat in Mizoram.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The MNF has been part of the National Democratic Alliance since 2014<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>till 2023.
Election resultsEdit
Mizoram Legislative AssemblyEdit
List of Chief MinistersEdit
.jpg){kind=link}
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}
| Name | Tenure | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Laldenga | 21 August 1986 – 7 September 1988 | Template:Age in years and days |
| Zoramthanga | 3 December 1998 – 4 December 2003 | 15 years, 0 days |
| 4 December 2003 – 11 December 2008 | ||
| 15 December 2018 – 5 December 2023 |
Current Party OfficersEdit
As of the latest party election in 2019, the officers are:<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
| Position | Officer |
|---|---|
| President | Zoramthanga |
| Senior Vice President | Tawnluia |
| Vice Presidents | Vanlalzawma and Lalthlengliana |
| Treasurer | K. Vanlalauva |
See alsoEdit
- Mizoram People's Conference
- Zoram Nationalist Party
- Zoram People's Movement
- Indian National Congress
- Political parties in Mizoram
- List of political parties in India
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
- Peace Accord 1986
- MPs of Mizoram (archived 6 August 2004)
- Mizo National Front campaign song recorded 1993 (video on YouTube)
Template:Mizoram Template:Indian political parties Template:North-East Democratic Alliance Template:Authority control