R Lalzirliana steps down as Mizoram Home Minister and resigns from Congress after show-cause notice

In what is set to be a major setback for Congress ahead of the upcoming Mizoram elections, R Lalzirliana has resigned from the party and stepped down from his post of Home Minister, two days after he was served a show-cause notice over reports of him joining a rival party. Apart from being the Home Minister, Lalzirliana also held the portfolios of power and electricity, rural development and excise and narcotics. 

There were reports emerging about unrest between Mizoram CM Lal Thanhawla and Lalzirliana since long. But on September 11, the party, based on some rumors, served a show-cause notice to the Home Minister. And following the notice, Lalziriliana has decided to part ways with the party, and stepped down from his present post.

Sources have told Republic TV that the outgoing Congress minister may well join Mizo National Front. 

Later this year, the state of Mizoram will head to elections, with Congress party looking to retain their power for the third consecutive time. Lal Thanhawla, present CM, will be looking to get elected for the third straight time, and fifth time overall. 

This is the second major loss for Congress in the north-east part of the country. On Thursday, four-time Meghalaya Chief Minister and senior Congress leader DD Lapang tendered his resignation to party President Rahul Gandhi, citing 'senior problems' in the party during his reign. Lapang, who has been associated with the party since the past four decades, dedicated a letter to the senior-most leaders of the Congress party, including, Rahul and Sonia Gandhi as well as the AICC secretary Vijay Laxmi Sadho.

Lapang served as the CM of Meghalaya on four different occasions, though, he never completed a full term. He first took oath in February 1992, but his stint ended just one year after. He then enjoyed a better second term, completing three years in the office when he became the CM in 2003 before problems in the coalition government started to arise.

His final two terms as CM saw him hold the post for just one year or less. In March 2007, he started his third term as CM of the state, before stepping down in March 2008, having only 28 seats in the assembly. And after becoming the head for an astonishing fourth time in May 2009, he had to let go off his post in April 2010, failing to complete even 12 months.