MPC snaps ties with ZPM in Mizoram

The Mizoram People's Conference (MPC) on Saturday said it has snapped ties with the Zoram People's Movement (ZPM), a coalition of small parties, after the latter was accorded the status of a political party.

The MPC was one of the seven parties that formed the ZPM which was registered as a single political party by the Election Commission on July 8.

The ZPM partners had won eight seats in the 40-member Mizoram assembly election held in November last year.

"The ZPM is no longer a coalition as it has been registered with the Election Commission. The MPC has not held any deliberation on dissolving the party and amalgamating it with the ZPM," senior MPC leader V Lalthazuala told the media.

The party wants to forge an alliance with like-minded entities without having to dissolve it, he said adding that the ZPM and the MPC can also be allies.

"There was no need for ZPM to become a political party as it managed to win eight seats in elections to the 40-member state Assembly held in November last year," he said.

The MPC on July 11 re-elected Lalhmangaiha Sailo, a retired Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer and son of former chief minister Brig. Thenphunga Sailo, as its president.

While several top leaders of MPC wanted to merge the party with the ZPM, Sailo was reluctant to dissolve the party founded by his father.