The Congress Legislature Party would hold a meeting on
Wednesdayto formally elect party chief Lal Thanhawla as the CLP leader,
paving the way for his becoming the chief minister for the second
consecutive term.
Mr. Thanhawla was likely to form
the new Congress government in Mizoram earliest by Friday, sources in
the Chief Minister’s Office said on Tuesday.
The
five-day national mourning as a mark of respect to South African leader
Nelson Mandela was one of the reasons for the delayed swearing-in
ceremony, the sources said.
Lal Thanhawla, all set
for a fifth term, won from both Serchhip and Hrangturzo seats, he
contested. He was elected to the Assembly for a record ninth time since
1978.
Congress won a two-thirds majority in the
November 25 Assembly election winning 33 of 39 seats and improved upon
its 2008 tally by one seat.
Repoll for Lawngtlai East seat would be held on Wednesday and counting would be done on Thursday.
The
opposition Mizoram Democratic Alliance (MDA), a pre-poll alliance
formed by the main opposition Mizo National Front (MNF), Mizoram
People’s Conference (MPC) and the Maraland Democratic Front (MDF) won
six seats (MNF 5 and MPC one).