Aizawl: Mizoram chief minister and Mizo National Front (MNF) president Zoramthanga has turned down the resignation of party vice-president Vanlalzawma citing the defeat in the recent bypoll to Serchhip assembly seat was a “collective responsibility”.
Although the party respected the decision taken by Vanlalzawma to resign from the vice president of the MNF after the defeat in the bypoll, the resignation could not be accepted as the defeat in the bypoll was not a “self-responsibility” but “collectective,” Zoramthanga said.
“We could not consider your resignation letter as fit for acceptance because the defeat in the bypoll was solely the responsibility of the party. We urge you to continue with your present post as the vice president of MNF with perseverance and dignity,” the MNF supremo said in his letter to Vanlalzawma on Tuesday.
Vanlalzawma, who was the MNF nominee in the recently concluded bypoll to Serchhip seat, chose to cease as MNF vice president on Monday citing “moral responsibility” over the party’s humiliating defeat in the bypoll.
The incident came a day after he lost the bypoll to main rival Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) candidate Lalduhoma.
In the bypoll held on April 17, the result of which was declared on Sunday, Vanlalzawma finished second by securing 5,319 votes. He lost by a margin of 3,310 votes.
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Vanlalzawma had won the lone Lok Sabha seat in Mizoram for two consecutive terms from 1999 to 2009 first as an independent candidate and later as a member of the MNF.
The 65- year-old leader had successfully contested the state assembly polls from Aizawl West-III constituency in 2013 and became an opposition leader in the state legislature for one term.