Mizo National Front
Encyclopedia
Mizo National Front is a regional political party
in Mizoram
, India
. MNF emerged out of the Mizo National Famine Front, which was formed by Pu Laldenga
to protest against the inaction of the Indian central government 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 Mizo Accord
with the Government of India, renouncing secession and violence. MNF suffered a strong incumbency wave in the 2008 Mizoram Election and lost all their MLA seats except three.
' . The cause of the famine was attributed to flowering of bamboos which consequently resulted in rat population boom in large numbers. After eating up bamboos seeds, the rats turned towards crops and infested the huts and houses and became a plaque to the Villages. The havoc created by the rats was terrible and very little of the grain was harvested. For sustenance, many Mizos had to collect roots and leaves from the jungles while a considerable number died of starvation. Earlier in 1955, Mizo Cultural Society was formed and Laldenga was its Secretary. In March 1960, the name of the Mizo Cultural Society was changed to 'Mautam front'. During the famine of 1959-1960, this society took lead in demanding relief and managed to attract the attention of all sections of the people. In September 1960, the Society adopted the name Mizo National Famine Front (MNFF). The MNFF gained considerable popularity as a large number of Mizo Youth assisted in transporting rice and other essential commodities to interior villages.
against the government, but failed to gain administrative control of the Mizo district. 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.
on June 30, 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. Laldenga became Chief Minister, but soon lost power due to defections in the party.
became party leader following the death of Laldenga in 1990. In 1998 and 2003 MNF won the state assembly elections, and Pu Zoramthanga was chief minister for 10 years. In the 2003 elections MNF won 21 out of 40 seats in the state assembly, and got 132 505 votes (31,66%). MNF was part of the National Democratic Alliance
, but later withdrew in 2007.
Officers as of 2007 were:
President: Pu Zoramthanga
Vice President: Pu Tawnluia
Treasurer: Pu Tlanghmingthanga
The MNF suffered a heavy defeat in the 2008 state assembly elections, winning only 3 of the 40 seats, and the Indian National Congress swept to power.
got 182 864 votes (52,46%).
MNF abstained in the vote of confidence on 22 July 2008 to maintain distance from Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP) and United Progressive Alliance
.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Mizoram
Mizoram
Mizoram is one of the Seven Sister States in North Eastern India, sharing borders with the states of Tripura, Assam, Manipur and with the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh and Burma. Mizoram became the 23rd state of India on 20 February 1987. Its capital is Aizawl. Mizoram is located in the...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. MNF emerged out of the Mizo National Famine Front, which was formed by Pu Laldenga
Pu Laldenga
Pu Laldenga was Chief Minister of Mizoram state in North-eastern India from 1986 till 1988. Prior to that he had led the secessionist Mizo National Front from 1960 until its disbanding following Mizo accord with Rajiv Gandhi in 1986.-Early years:...
to protest against the inaction of the Indian central government towards the famine situation in the Mizo areas of the Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
state in 1959. It staged a major uprising
March 1966 Mizo National Front uprising
The March 1966 Mizo National Front uprising was a revolt against the Government of India, aimed at establishing a sovereign state for the Mizos. On 1 March 1966, the Mizo National Front made a declaration of independence, after launching coordinated attacks on the Government offices and security...
in 1966, followed by years of underground activities. In 1986, it signed the Mizo Accord
Mizo accord
The Mizoram Accord was signed between the Mizo National Front and the Government of India on June 30 1986. The MNF was a secessionist movement to protest against the negligence and indifference of the Government of India to the people of Mizoram at the time of a severe famine, mautam, during the...
with the Government of India, renouncing secession and violence. MNF suffered a strong incumbency wave in the 2008 Mizoram Election and lost all their MLA seats except three.
Origin
In 1959, Mizo Hills was devastated by a great famine known in Mizo history as 'MautamMautam
Mautam is a cyclic ecological phenomenon that occurs every 48 years in the northeastern Indian states of Mizoram and Manipur, which are thirty percent covered by wild bamboo forests, as well as Chin State in Burma, particularly Hakha, Thantlang, Falam, Paletwa and Matupi Townships, creating a...
' . The cause of the famine was attributed to flowering of bamboos which consequently resulted in rat population boom in large numbers. After eating up bamboos seeds, the rats turned towards crops and infested the huts and houses and became a plaque to the Villages. The havoc created by the rats was terrible and very little of the grain was harvested. For sustenance, many Mizos had to collect roots and leaves from the jungles while a considerable number died of starvation. Earlier in 1955, Mizo Cultural Society was formed and Laldenga was its Secretary. In March 1960, the name of the Mizo Cultural Society was changed to 'Mautam front'. During the famine of 1959-1960, this society took lead in demanding relief and managed to attract the attention of all sections of the people. In September 1960, the Society adopted the name Mizo National Famine Front (MNFF). The MNFF gained considerable popularity as a large number of Mizo Youth assisted in transporting rice and other essential commodities to interior villages.
Underground movement
The Mizo National Famine Front, 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 October 22, 1961. The ways in which the 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 uprisingMarch 1966 Mizo National Front uprising
The March 1966 Mizo National Front uprising was a revolt against the Government of India, aimed at establishing a sovereign state for the Mizos. On 1 March 1966, the Mizo National Front made a declaration of independence, after launching coordinated attacks on the Government offices and security...
against the government, but failed to gain administrative control of the Mizo district. 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.
Peace settlement
This chapter of insurgency finally came to a close with the signing of the Mizoram Peace AccordMizo accord
The Mizoram Accord was signed between the Mizo National Front and the Government of India on June 30 1986. The MNF was a secessionist movement to protest against the negligence and indifference of the Government of India to the people of Mizoram at the time of a severe famine, mautam, during the...
on June 30, 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. Laldenga became Chief Minister, but soon lost power due to defections in the party.
Political party
Former guerrilla leader Pu ZoramthangaPu Zoramthanga
Zoramthanga was the Chief Minister of Mizoram, India, from December 1998 to December 2008. His party, the Mizo National Front, lost the 2008 Assembly elections to the Indian National Congress. He tendered his resignation to Governor MM Lakhera on 8 December 2008 and left office 3 days later. He...
became party leader following the death of Laldenga in 1990. In 1998 and 2003 MNF won the state assembly elections, and Pu Zoramthanga was chief minister for 10 years. In the 2003 elections MNF won 21 out of 40 seats in the state assembly, and got 132 505 votes (31,66%). MNF was part of the National Democratic Alliance
National Democratic Alliance (India)
The National Democratic Alliance is a centre-right coalition of political parties in India. At the time of its formation in 1998, it was led by the Bharatiya Janata Party and had thirteen constituent parties. Its convenor is Sharad Yadav, and its honorary chairman is former prime minister Atal...
, but later withdrew in 2007.
Officers as of 2007 were:
President: Pu Zoramthanga
Vice President: Pu Tawnluia
Treasurer: Pu Tlanghmingthanga
The MNF suffered a heavy defeat in the 2008 state assembly elections, winning only 3 of the 40 seats, and the Indian National Congress swept to power.
MNF's role in the parliament
In the 2004 Lok Sabha elections MNF won the only seat of Mizoram. The MNF candidate Pu VanlalzawmaVanlalzawma
Vanlalzawma is an Indian politician. Born on 10 February 1956. He was married to C. L. Remtluangi on 16 October 1981.In the confidence voting on July 22, 2008 that the United Progressive Alliance won with a 275-256 margin. Among these ten, two MPs towed their party line of equidistance from the...
got 182 864 votes (52,46%).
MNF abstained in the vote of confidence on 22 July 2008 to maintain distance from Bharatiya Janata Party
Bharatiya Janata Party
The Bharatiya Janata Party ,; translation: Indian People's Party) is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Indian National Congress. Established in 1980, it is India's second largest political party in terms of representation in the parliament...
(BJP) and United Progressive Alliance
United Progressive Alliance
The United Progressive Alliance is a ruling coalition of center-left political parties heading the government of India. The coalition is led by the Indian National Congress , which is currently the single largest political party in the Lok Sabha...
.