Pu Zoramthanga served as the Chief Minister of the state of Mizoram since December 1998. His term ended in December 2008. Zoramthanga`s party, named the Mizo National Front, lost the 2008 Assembly elections against the Indian National Congress. Pu Zoramthanga contested both South and North Champhai. Pu Zoramthanga lost both the constituencies. He has mentioned incumbency as the cause due to his party ahs lost. Zoramthanga contested for both the North and South Champhai, but lost from both constituencies.
Early Life of Pu Zoramthanga
Pu Zoramthanga was born on 13th July, 1944, to the parents Pu Darphunga and Pi Vanhnuaichhingi at Samthang village. He was the 2nd youngest child of their 8 children. He has five brothers and three sisters. In the year 1950, he was admitted in a primary School. In 1954, Zoramthanga joined middle school after his primary education at South Khawbung. After he passed standard 6, he left the school in 1956. As a student of standard 7, in 1957, he went on to join Champhai Gandhi Memorial High School. Zoramthanga finished his high school at Champhai from Samthang village in 1960. He attended Manipur College to complete his graduation.
Political Career of Pu Zoramthanga
In the year 1966, Pu Zoramthanga joined the underground movement, when Mizoram was experiencing insurgency related disturbance. Pu Zoramthanga was made the Secretary of the President, Pu Laldenga. He held this job for 7 long years.
At the time when East Pakistan fell and Bangladesh nation was born; Pu Zoramthanga, along with Pu Laldenga and his family, including all his personal staff, acceded in a tough escape bid to Karachi. In Pakistan, the statuses of official guests were accorded to them and they settled down in Islamabad from 1972 to 1976. Upon their arrival in Delhi in 1976, they were engaged in peace talks and Pu Zoramthanga participated in all these peace talks and was the key initiator as well.
However, when in 1979, the Indian government held them captives in Delhi; he held the responsibility of the Vice President. He single-handedly succeeded in renovating and rejuvenating the Headquarters from the state to which it had fallen. During insurgency he was arrested by the army and held at the Assam Rifles Quarter Guard due to which he was actively pushing the re-location of Assam Rifles outside the city of Aizawl.
Pu Zoramthanga was made the Minister in the following government. When under the leadership of Pu Laldenga in the year 1987, the Mizo National Front formed the government; he shouldered the responsibilities to look after Finance and Education departments. He continued to be the committed lieutenant of Pu Laldenga. In 1990, after the death of Pu Laldenga, he become the President of the Mizo National Front. Since then he continues to be the President of the MNF till date.
For 4 consecutive terms, Zoramthanga has been re-elected to the Mizoram Legislative Assembly from Champhai constituency. He led his party to victory and became the 5th Chief Minister of Mizoram when the 1998 assembly election was held.
Personal Life of Pu Zoramthanga
On February 2, 1988, Pu Zoramthanga married Roneihsangi, at Dawrpui Presbyterian Church. The couple has a son, Ramthansiama and a daughter, Milari.