Congress's John Rotluangliana says ZPM government has failed Mizoram

Senior Congress leader and former Mizoram minister John Rotluangliana on Tuesday accused the Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) government of failing to keep its promises, saying it had little development work to show for its time in office.

He made the remarks while addressing a political training programme organised at Chhiahtlang in Serchhip district on November 10, according to reports by India Today NE and the PTI news agency.

'Ask what reached your constituency'

Rotluangliana told party workers that Mizoram's voters had given different parties a chance to govern over the years and should now judge them by what they actually delivered.

He urged people to ask what development work the ZPM government had brought to their own constituencies, and what it had done for the poor. Apart from organising tournaments, he alleged, the government had done little substantial work on the ground. He also questioned whether it had taken up any significant initiative for the overall development of the state.

Mini-hydel projects and Lengpui Airport

The Congress leader alleged that the ZPM government had sold seven mini-hydel power projects that were set up when the Congress was in power. He also claimed the government had made repeated attempts to sell Lengpui Airport, the state's only commercial airport, near Aizawl.

These are allegations made at a party event. The state government had not responded to them publicly as of early Wednesday, and NEInsider has not independently verified the claims about the hydel projects or the airport.

Political backdrop

The ZPM, led by Chief Minister Lalduhoma, came to power after the 2023 Assembly election, ending the long alternation between the Mizo National Front (MNF) and the Congress. Opposition parties have since stepped up criticism of its record.

NEInsider will update this story if the government or the ZPM responds.