From no existence to the top-post in 5 yrs: The rise of ZPM 

With the Election Commission declaring its winner in 25 seats and its candidates leading in two of the 40 assembly seats of Mizoram, the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) is heading towards a landslide victory. ZPM is an alliance of six parties which was formed just before the last assembly elections held in 2018. Here, let's trace the formation of ZPM and how its emerged as the leading party in Mizoram assembly elections 2023. 

Votes are being ounted in Mizoram from 8am on Monday, December 4, for the 40 assembly seats, in which 21 is the majority mark. The MNF, ZPM and Congress contested 40 seats each, while the BJP fielded candidates in 23 seats. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which contested the assembly polls here for the first time, fought in four seats. Also, there were 17 Independent candidates. 

ZPM takes early lead, defeats MNF big guns 

ZPM candidates are leading ahead of the incumbent MNF MLAs including senior leaders like the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and Health minister among others. 

Deputy CM and MNF candidate Tawnluia has lost to ZPM candidate W Chhuanawma in the Tuichang seat by a margin of 909 votes. Further, Chief Minister Zoramthanga is trailing in the Aizawl East-1 seat to ZPM's Lalthansanga after two rounds of counting. 

Health Minister R Lalthangliana is also trailing in the South Tuipui seat, and ZPM candidate Jeje Lalpekhlua was leading. ZPM's CM candidate Lalduhoma has won the Serchhip seat. 

Rise of ZPM 

ZPM is an alliance of six parties which was formed just before the last assembly elections held in 2018. In the last election, ZPM candidates ran as independents and secured six of the 40 seats. The Zoram People's Movement was formed as a coalition of six regional parties: Mizoram People's Conference, Zoram Nationalist Party, Zoram Exodus Movement, Zoram Decentralisation Front, Zoram Reformation Front, and Mizoram People's Party. The Election Commission of India (ECI) officially registered the party in July 2019.

ZPM banked on corruption-free governance promise 

Despite being contesting the first election, this time the party was confident of victory during the run-up to polls.  "I am looking at 25 seats, a minimum of 25 seats..The state is painted yellow now.. There is no question of any coalition government,” claimed ZPM candidate and Rajya Sabha MP Lalnghinglova Hmar during the campaign. The party contested on all 40 seats. 

Further, ZPM’s emergence has provided the people of Manipur a credible alternative to both MNF and Congress. Congress has been a bit worried with the emergence of ZPM, as it may dent its prospects in the state. 

ZPM mainly focused on “corruption-free governance” as the major poll promise. After winning, Lalduhoma said that the ZPM is inheriting a financially broken state from the outgoing MNF government.