In yet another setback for Congress in Mizoram, the Congress legislator from Tuirial, Hmingdailova Khiangte has resigned from the party ahead of the state assembly polls scheduled to be held on November 28, 2018.
According to the reports, Khiangte is the fourth Congress MLA to resign from the present Mizoram Legislative Assembly. Khiangte, a retired police DIG, tendered his resignation to the assembly speaker and said that he will state his future course of action only on Tuesday.
A retired IPS officer, Hmingdailova Khiangte had been elected twice before but was not in the Congress party’s ticket list this year. Instead, the party has chosen to field Joseph L Ralte, a local leader from Tuirial assembly segment instead of Khiangte.
R Lalzirliana, who was Home Minister in the Lal Thanhawla Cabinet, former Health Minister Lalrinliana Sailo and BD Chakma had tendered their resignations earlier. With Khiangte’s resignation, the strength of Congress party in the state assembly has reduced to 30.
Reportedly, former Health Minister Sailo and former Home Minister Lalzirliana had submitted their resignations last week and had joined the opposition MNF party. BD Chakma resigned and recently joined the BJP.
According to reports, Khiangte may contest from the Tuirial seat on a National People’s Party (NPP) ticket. The elections to Mizoram state assembly will be held on November 28 in a single phase. The result will be announced on December 11 along with the results of four other states – Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Rajasthan and Chattisgarh.