Aizawl, December 15 (IANS): Days after ending Congress' 10-year rule in Mizoram, Mizo National Front (MNF)chief Zoramthanga on Saturday took oath as the Chief Minister of thenortheastern state for a third term.
Governor Kummanam Rajasekharanadministered the oath of office and secrecy to Zoramthanga and his 11 Councilof Ministers (six of them as ministers of state) at a ceremony at the RajBhavan here.
Zoramthanga, 74, earlierheaded the state from 1998-2003 and 2003-2008.
During the swearing-inceremony, the National Anthem was sung, followed by reading of verses from theBible, singing of religious hymns and prayer by Rev R. Lalhmingthanga, chairmanof Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee, a conglomerate of 16 major churches inthe state.
Among those present at theceremony were outgoing Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, Meghalaya Chief MinisterConrad K. Sangma, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) leader and former Assam ChiefMinister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, leaders of various political parties andsenior civil and security officials.
The other council-of-ministerswho also took oath are: Tawnluia, R. Lalthangliana, Lalchamliana, R. Lalzirliana,C. Lalrinsanga (all cabinet ministers), K. Lalrinliana, Lalchhandama Ralte,Lalruatkima, K. Beichhua, T.J. Lalnuntluanga and Robert Romawia Ralte (allministers of state).
Tawnluia, who was elected tothe Assembly for a fifth term since 1987, has been appointed as Deputy ChiefMinister.
"The Chief Minister woulddistribute the portfolios among the ministers soon after a cabinetmeeting," an official of the Chief Minister's secretariat told the media.
The MNF in the November 28Assembly polls secured 26 seats, five more than an absolute majority in the40-member Assembly, ousting the Congress from power in its last bastion innortheast India.
The MNF only got five seats inthe 2013 Assembly polls, while the Congress won 34. This time, the Congress gotonly five seats.
The Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) for the first time made its entry into the Mizoram Assembly, winning thelone Tuichawng seat.
State Congress chief andoutgoing Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla lost in both Champhai South and Serchhipconstituencies.
Zoramthanga won the AizawlEast-I seat for the fifth term.
The MNF is a constituent ofthe BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA).
However, both the BJP and MNF fielded candidates separately in 40 and 39 seats, respectively.
