Mizo National Front | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | MNF |
| President | Zoramthanga |
| Rajya Sabha Leader | K. Vanlalvena |
| Founder | Laldenga |
| Founded | 1961; 64 years ago (1961) |
| Headquarters | Zarkawt,Aizawl,Mizoram |
| Youth wing | Mizo National Youth Front |
| Women's wing | Mizo National Women Front |
| Ideology | Mizo nationalism Christian right[1] Zo Unification[2] Anti-CAA[3] |
| Political position | Right-wing[4] |
| Colours | |
| ECI Status | State Party[5] |
| Alliance |
(National level) (2025-Present)
|
| Seats in Rajya Sabha | 1 / 245 |
| Seats in Lok Sabha | 0 / 543 |
| Seats in Mizoram Legislative Assembly | 10 / 40 |
| Election symbol | |
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| Website | |
| mnfparty | |
TheMizo National Front (abbr.MNF) is a regionalpolitical party inMizoram,India. MNF emerged from theMizo National Famine Front, which was formed byPu Laldenga to protest against the inaction of theGovernment of India towards the1959 famine in theMizo areas of theAssam state. It staged amajor uprising in 1966, followed by years of underground activities. In 1986, it signed theMizoram Accord with the Government of India, renouncing secession and violence. The MNF then began contesting elections and has formed state government in Mizoram three times. It is currently the state's opposition party, with its president,Zoramthanga, as the FormerChief Minister of Mizoram.[6]
In 1958, the Mizo Hills were devastated by theMautam, a cyclic phenomenon where the flowering of bamboo plants result in a plague of crop-eating rats, in turn causing a famine.[7][8]
Earlier in 1955, Mizo Cultural Society was formed, with Laldenga as its secretary. In March 1960, the name of the Mizo Cultural Society was changed to 'Mautam Front'.[9] During the famine of 1959–1960, this society took lead in demanding relief and attracted the attention of all sections of the people. In September 1960, the Society adopted the name Mizo National Famine Front (MNFF).[10][11] The MNFF gained considerable popularity as a large number of Mizo Youth assisted in transporting rice and other essential commodities to interior villages.[12]
The MNFF, 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 22 October 1961.[13] The first OB leaders elected were, PresidentLaldenga, Vice President JF Manliana, General Secy. R. Vanlawma, and Treasurer Rochhinga and the ways in which the Indian authority of the day handled the famine left the people disillusioned. The wave of secessionist and armed insurrection was running high among the Mizos. In 1966, MNF leda major uprising against the government, but failed to gain administrative control of the Mizo district.[11] The secessionist movement held on for about two decades. During that time, they invadedBurma claimingChin State andTahan belong to Mizoram since most of the resident in Tahan are Mizo.[14][15]
This chapter of insurgency finally came to a close with the signing of theMizoram Accord on 30 June 1986 between the underground government of the Mizo National Front and the Government of India. Under the terms of the peace accord, Mizoram was granted statehood in February 1987.[16]
Inthe resulting election, the Congress won, and the MNF would be in opposition until 1998. In 1990, Laldenga died, and was replaced by his former secretary and Finance Minister,Zoramthanga. In 1998 and 2003 MNF won the state assembly elections, and Zoramthanga was chief minister for 10 years.[17] In the 2003 elections MNF won 21 out of 40 seats in the state assembly, and got 132 505 votes (31.66%).[18] The party was routed by the Congress in the2008 state election, winning just 3 seats.[19] It contested the 2013 state elections in alliance with theMizoram People's Conference, and won 5 seats to the Congress's 34.[6] Inthe 2018 state assembly elections, the MNF won 26 seats and returned to government.[20] The party lost power to theZoram People's Movement duringthe 2023 state assembly elections.
For the2014 Lok Sabha elections, it formed an alliance called United Democratic Front with seven other parties including BJP, to contest the only seat in Mizoram.[21] The MNF has been part of theNational Democratic Alliance since 2014[22][23]
| Year | Party leader | Seats won | Change in seats | Vote % | Vote swing | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Laldenga | 24 / 40 |  24 | 43.31% | New | Government |
| 1989 | 14 / 40 |  10 | 35.29% | 8.02% | Opposition | |
| 1993 | Zoramthanga | 14 / 40 |  | 40.41% | 5.12% | Opposition |
| 1998 | 21 / 40 | 7 | 24.99% | 15.42% | Government | |
| 2003 | 21 / 40 | | 31.69% | 6.70% | Government | |
| 2008 | 3 / 40 | 18 | 30.65% | 1.04% | Others | |
| 2013 | 5 / 40 | 2 | 28.65% | 2.00% | Opposition | |
| 2018 | 26 / 40 | 21 | 37.70% | 9.05% | Government | |
| 2023 | 10 / 40 | 16 | 35.10% | 2.6% | Opposition |
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| Name | Tenure | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Laldenga | 21 August 1986 – 7 September 1988 | 2 years, 17 days |
| Zoramthanga | 3 December 1998 – 4 December 2003 | 15 years, 0 days |
| 4 December 2003 – 11 December 2008 | ||
| 15 December 2018 – 5 December 2023 |
As of the latest party election in 2019, the officers are:[24]
| Position | Officer |
|---|---|
| President | Zoramthanga |
| Senior Vice President | Tawnluia |
| Vice Presidents | Vanlalzawma andLalthlengliana |
| Treasurer | K. Vanlalauva |
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