Ruling ZPM names K. Laltluangkima for Mizoram Rajya Sabha poll
Aizawl, June 3
Ruling Zoram People's Movement in Mizoram on Wednesday announced that party spokesperson K. Laltluangkima will be its candidate for the June 18 election to the lone Rajya Sabha seat from the state.
ZPM Vice-President C. Lalnunnema announced the name of K. Laltluangkima as the party's nominee for the election to the Upper House of Parliament.
The Opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) is yet to announce its candidate for the Rajya Sabha poll. The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which have one and two members, respectively, in the 40-member Mizoram Assembly, are unlikely to field candidates for the upcoming election.
At present, the ZPM has 27 members in the Assembly, while the main Opposition MNF has 10 legislators. The BJP has two MLAs and the Congress has one.
An MNF leader said that the party is likely to announce its candidate soon. The term of outgoing Rajya Sabha member from Mizoram, K. Vanlalvena of the MNF, is set to expire on July 19, 2026.
Elections to 24 Rajya Sabha seats across the country, including four in the Northeastern states, will be held on June 18.
The polls are scheduled for seats from Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Karnataka (4 seats), Andhra Pradesh (4 seats), Gujarat (4 seats), Madhya Pradesh (3 seats), Rajasthan (3 seats) and Jharkhand (two seats).
The term of Manipur's lone Rajya Sabha member, Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba (BJP), and Meghalaya's sole Rajya Sabha representative, Dr. Wanweiroy Kharlukhi of the National People's Party (NPP), will end on June 21.
The tenure of Arunachal Pradesh's only Rajya Sabha member, Nabam Rebia (BJP), will expire on June 23.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) issued the statutory notifications for the June 18 Rajya Sabha elections on Monday.
In the event of a contest, polling will be conducted on June 18 from 9 A.M. to 4 P.M., followed by counting of votes from 5 P.M., the ECI said in a statement.
The poll panel has also appointed Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers for the elections. The filing of nominations for all the Rajya Sabha elections commenced at 11 A.M. on June 1, while the last date for submission of nomination papers is June 8 up to 3 P.M.
Scrutiny of nominations will be undertaken by the respective Returning Officers on June 9. The last date for withdrawal of candidature has been fixed as June 11, according to the ECI notification.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good to see regional parties getting their due representation. ZPM has done well in Mizoram after winning last year's assembly elections. But I'm curious why MNF is delaying their candidate announcement - maybe they're strategizing or trying to build consensus. K. Laltluangkima seems like a solid choice as party spokesperson.
While ZPM has the numbers, I hope this election isn't just a rubber stamp. Democracy works best when there's healthy competition. The Congress and BJP not fielding candidates seems like they're admitting defeat - not good for the spirit of democracy. Still, Laltluangkima should be accountable to the people of Mizoram. 🇮🇳
Interesting political dynamics in the Northeast. ZPM consolidating power after defeating MNF. The June 18 Rajya Sabha elections across multiple states will be quite telling - especially in Karnataka, Andhra, Gujarat where numbers matter. Mizoram's seat seems settled unless MNF pulls a surprise. Hoping for transparent elections.
Laltluangkima as party spokesperson is a good communicator - that matters in Rajya Sabha where debates and discussions are key. But I wish more young and dynamic voices from Northeast get into the Upper House. The outgoing MNF member's term goes till 2026, so this is a long-term position. Hope he serves Mizoram well!
Honestly, Rajya Sabha elections in smaller states often become a formality when the ruling party has a brute majority. But I appreciate that the opposition MNF is still contesting - keeps the
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