Mizoram Governor, ZPM govt on collision course after BJP ouster in Chakma Council revolving door
Since its current term began in 2023, the CADC has seen two mass defections and two no-confidence motions with the first-ever BJP-led executive committee of the Council toppled last month, following which the ZPM staked claim to its leadership.
The CADC, set up in 1972, is an autonomous body under the provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which is meant to ensure autonomy in the governance of the Chakma-inhabited belt in the state's Lawngtlai district. The Chakma tribe is an ethnic minority group, which is the second largest ethnic community in Mizoram.
After the BJP was voted out from the CADC leadership through a no-confidence motion on June 16, the ZPM – with 16 out of 20 elected MDCs (members of development council), including 12 defectors from the BJP – staked claim to forming the next CADC panel. The BJP had also come to power in the wake of similar defections and a no-confidence motion in 2024.
Following the ZPM's bid on June 18, the Governor sought the opinion of Chief Minister Lalduhoma's Council of Ministers on the issue, which disapproved of the dissolution of the CADC.
However, on July 7, Gen Singh instead imposed Governor's rule, stating that the CADC's persistent instability 'is extremely detrimental' for it and 'is certainly not what is envisioned by the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India'. The official notification also said that the Governor will assume the CADC's powers and functions for six months, which would be exercised by Lawngtlai Deputy Commissioner on his behalf.
Hitting back, the ZPM government pointed out that Gen Singh imposed the Governor's rule in the CADC against the advice given by the Council of Ministers. State Home Minister K Sapdanga said the Lalduhoma ministry had on July 4 suggested to the Governor that the CADC should not be dissolved and that the ZPM be allowed to form its next executive committee in view of its 'majority'.
'Though we are fully aware of the Governor's discretionary power over the ADC, we see his action as a breach of democratic principles,' Sapdanga said.
However, Durjya Dhan Chakma, BJP leader and ex-CADC chief executive member (CEM), said the Governor has 'made the right move'.
'Dissolution is the only solution to this situation for now. But one of the reasons for these constant changes is that there is no anti-defection law in autonomous district councils and that needs to be brought for the long term,' he told The Indian Express.
Over the last decade the CADC has been marked with instability, defections and shifting power. Its previous term from 2018 to 2023 had witnessed four different heads or CEMs taking charge.
The previous election to the 20-member CADC was held in May 2023, when 10 members from the Mizo National Front (MNF) and 5 each from the BJP and the Congress had been elected. The MNF then formed the executive committee with its leader Rasik Mohan Chakma becoming the CEM.
In December 2024, Rasik was removed from his post through a no-confidence motion. Defections of various members to different parties at that time had changed the composition of the Council, which then comprised 10 members from the ZPM, 9 from the BJP and one MNF member. But when the ZPM tried to form its executive panel, four of its member switched to the BJP, which tipped the balance and enabled the BJP to come to power for the first time in the CADC with Molin Kumar Chakma taking over as the new CEM, who was ousted last month.
Subsequently, some notable Chakma civil society organisations met Gen Singh and submitted a memorandum seeking the imposition of Governor's rule. Denying partisanship, Central Young Chakma Association president Jyoti Bikash Chakma said this decision was spurred by frustration over 'instability and malpractices', saying that the CADC was facing a 'financial emergency' because of crores of shortfall in the budget for salaries of its employees since the last financial year.
'Nobody wants to be part of the Opposition, so when the CADC breaks, everyone jumps and moves to the party in the ascendant, and the whole Council changes. The main reason for this is backdoor appointments as political favours and nepotism. They want to remain in power to make these appointments,' Jyoti said.
'One of the requests we have made to the Governor is to order an independent inquiry into appointments made in the CADC. The Governor had imposed a moratorium on hiring in 2022 but we have estimated that since then, at least 200 appointments have been made. If this is taken up seriously, then this situation can be addressed,' he added.
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