| Mizoram National Front | |
|---|---|
| {{{party_logo}}} | |
| Party Chairperson | {{{chairman}}} |
| General Secretary | {{{secretary}}} |
| Parliamentary Party Chairperson | {{{ppchairman}}} |
| Leader of Lok Sabha | {{{loksabha_leader}}} |
| Leader of Rajya Sabha | {{{rajyasabha_leader}}} |
| Founded | 1961 |
| Headquarters | Aizawl, Mizoram |
| Alliance | {{{alliance}}} |
| Seats in Lok Sabha | {{{loksabha_seats}}} |
| Seats in Rajya Sabha | {{{rajyasabha_seats}}} |
| Political Ideology | {{{ideology}}} |
| Political Position | Fiscal: Social: |
| Publications | {{{publication}}} |
| Website | {{{website}}} |
Mizo National Front, a regional political party in Mizoram, India. MNF emerged out of the Mizo Famine Front, which was formed by Pu Laldenga to protest against the inaction of the Indian central government towards the famine situation in the Mizo areas of the Assam state in 1959.
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Origin
In 1959, Mizo Hills was devastated by a great famine known in Mizo history as 'Mautam Famine' . The cause of the famine was attributed to flowering of bamboos which consequent resulted in rat population boom in large numbers. After eating up bamboos seeds, the rats turned towards crops and infested the huts and houses and became a plaque to the Villages. The havoc created by the rats was terrible and very little of the grain was harvested. For sustenance, many Mizos had to collect roots and leaves from the jungles while a considerable number died of starvation. Earlier in 1955, Mizo Cultural Society was formed in 1955 and Laldenga was its Secretary. In March 1960, the name of the Mizo Cultural Society was changed to 'Mautam front' During the famine of 1959-1960, this society took lead in demanding relief and managed to attract the attention of all sections of the people. In September 1960, the Society adopted the name of Mizo National Famine Front (MNFF). The MNFF gained considerable popularity as a large number of Mizo Youth assisted in transporting rice and other essential commodities to interior villages.
Underground Movement
The Mizo National Famine Front, which was originally formed to help ease the immense sufferings of the people during the severe Mautam Famine in Mizoram, was converted into Mizo National Front (MNF) on October 22, 1961. The ways in which the authority of the day handled the famine left the people disillusioned. The wave of secessionist and armed insurrection was running high among the Mizos. The secessionist movement held on for about two decades.
Peace Settlement
This chapter of insurgency finally came to a close with the signing of the Memorandum of Settlement on June 30, 1986 between the underground government of the Mizo National Front and the Government of India with Pu Laldenga became Chief Minister.
Political Party
Former guerrilla leader Pu Zoramthanga became party leader following the death of Laldenga in 1990. In 1998 and 2003 MNF won the state assembly elections, and Pu Zoramthanga is currently chief minister. In the 2003 elections MNF won 21 out of 40 seats in the state assembly, and got 132 505 votes (31,66%). MNF was part of the National Democratic Alliance but later withdrew in 2007[1]. Officers are: President: Pu Zoramthanga Vice President: Pu Tawnluia Treasurer: Pu Tlanghmingthanga In the 2004 Lok Sabha elections MNF won the only seat of Mizoram. The MNF candidate Pu Vanlalzawma got 182 864 votes (52,46%).
External links
References
- ^ See the List of recognised political parties in India.
- ^ To gain recognition as a state party, the party must have some kind of political activity for at least five continuous years, and send at least 4% of the state's quota to the Lok Sabha (India's Lower house), or 3.33% of members to the state assembly. If the above conditions are not fulfilled, then a party may gain recognition by garnering not less than 6% of the total votes in a state or national election, polled in by all its contesting candidates. If a party is recognised in four or more states, it is automatically recognised as a national party by the EC.
