Aizawl, December 15: Mizo National Front (MNF) president Zoramthanga on Saturday was sworn-in as the new chief minister of Mizoram.  The 74-year old leader took the oath as the CM of Mizoram at the Raj Bhavan at 12 noon. The MNF returned to power in Mizoram by winning 26 seats of the 40-member state legislature. The MNF's spectacular victory in Mizoram uprooted the Congress in its last bastion in the northeast to return to power after 10 years. Mizoram Assembly Elections 2018 Results: MNF Wins Majority, Erodes Congress From Last Northeast State. 

The MNF won 26 seats in the 40-member assembly, a gain of 21 seats since 2013. The Congress managed to bag only five seats compared to 34 seats it won in the 2013 assembly elections. Reports inform that former chief minister Lal Thanhawla suffered defeats from both the seats he contested, including his home turf Serchip. He also lost from Champai South constituency.

The 74-year-old rebel-turned-politician was a former underground leader and a close aide of the legendary MNF leader Laldenga. Zoramthanga, who has been chief minister of Mizoram twice, was back with a bang on Tuesday after being in the politics for two assembly terms. The MNF led by Zoramthanga, a former underground, had won the assembly elections in 1998 and 2003. 90 Percent MLAs in Mizoram are 'Crorepatis', Says a Survey by ADR. 

At a meeting of its newly-elected legislators. the MNF had unanimously elected Zoramthanga as the leader of the MNF legislature party. On Wednesday, Governor Kummanam Rajasekharan had formally invited Zoramthanga to form the next government after receiving the signed notification of the result from Election Commission officials who arrived here late in the evening, Raj Bhavan sources said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 15, 2018 12:24 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).