In a major political shake-up in Mizoram’s Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has lost control following a successful no-confidence motion that removed Molin Kumar Chakma from his position as the council’s Executive Member-in-Charge. The move marks a significant turning point in the council’s short-lived BJP-led administration and heralds the rise of the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) as the dominant force within the council.
The no-confidence motion was passed during a special session convened by CADC Chairman Lakkhan Chakma, who was among the 12 BJP members who defected to the ZPM. Of the 17 elected members present, 15 voted in support of the motion, one opposed, and one member from the Mizo National Front (MNF) abstained. The motion’s success effectively dismantled the BJP-led executive committee that had come to power earlier this year on February 4, 2025. The ZPM, which currently rules the state of Mizoram, has now secured a clear majority of 16 members in the 20-member elected council. The BJP is left with just two members, while the MNF has one. Another seat remains vacant following the death of a BJP councillor in April. Despite this significant shift in political alignment, the ZPM has not yet formally staked claim to form the new executive committee of the CADC.
An official from the council remarked, “The no-confidence motion has passed as per rules, and the Executive Member has been removed. It is now up to the ZPM to propose a new leadership structure in the days to come.” The Chakma Autonomous District Council, headquartered in Chawngte (Kamalangar) in Lawngtlai district, was formed in 1972 under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution to promote the socio-economic development and self-governance of the Chakma tribal community. It holds legislative, executive, and limited judicial powers over various subjects including land management, health, education, and rural development within its jurisdiction.
