Laldenga remembered on his death anniversary

Mizo National Front (MNF) leaders today paid their respects to legendary underground leader and former Mizoram chief minister Laldenga on his death anniversary today.
Former Chief Minister Zoramthanga, Laldenga's widow Lalbiakdiki and other MNF leaders laid wreaths on his tomb at the Treasury Square here.
Born in 1927, Laldenga joined the Indian Army as havildar clerk and was working under the then Mizo District Council after leaving the army.
He, and some leaders formed the Mizo National Famine Front (MNFF) during the great Mautam famine caused by gregarious bamboo flowering during the late 1950s triggering rodent population explosion which in turn ravaged the paddy fields.

He converted the MNFF into a political party and rechristened it as the Mizo National Front (MNF).
The MNF led by Laldenga launched a protracted movement against the Indian Union in 1966 plunging the state into disturbance which was put to an end by the signing of the historic Mizo peace accord by the centre and the Laldenga on June 30, 1986.

He became the chief minister of Mizoram in the later part of 1986 in the interim government with the present chief minister Lal Thanhawla as the Deputy Chief Minister.
He was inducted as the first chief minister of the state of Mizoram in 1987 after Mizoram was elevated into a full-fledged state on February 20, 1987.

Laldenga died at the London airport on July seven, 1990 while returning from the US after receiving treatment.