View source for Mizo National Front

{{Short description|Political party in India}}
{{pp-extended|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}} 
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox Indian political party
|abbreviation      = MNF
|party_logo        = Flag Of MNF.jpg
|colorcode         = {{party color|Mizo National Front}}
|president         = [[Zoramthanga]]
|foundation        = {{Start date and age|1961|df=y}}
|founder           = [[Laldenga]]
|headquarters      = Zarkawt, [[Aizawl]], [[Mizoram]]
|eci               = State Party<ref>{{cite web|title=List of Political Parties and Election Symbols main Notification Dated 18.01.2013|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/ElectoralLaws/OrdersNotifications/ElecSym19012013_eng.pdf|publisher=Election Commission of India|access-date=9 May 2013|location=India|year=2013}}</ref>
|alliance          = 
*[[National Democratic Alliance|NDA]] (2014-2023) 
([[Lok Sabha|National level]]) (2025-Present)<br />([[Autonomous District Council|Autonomous Councils]])
*[[Indian National Congress|INC+]] (2021-2025)<br />([[Autonomous District Council|Autonomous Councils]])
|loksabha_seats    = {{Composition bar|0|543|hex={{party color|Mizo National Front}}}}
|rajyasabha_seats  = {{Composition bar|1|245|hex={{party color|Mizo National Front}}}}
|ideology          = {{Nowrap|[[Mizo National Front uprising|Mizo nationalism]]<br />[[Christian right]]<ref>{{Cite web | title=You are being redirected... | url=https://nagalandpost.com/index.php/mnf-govt-in-mizoram-to-take-oath-amidst-christian-rituals/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204091215/https://nagalandpost.com/index.php/mnf-govt-in-mizoram-to-take-oath-amidst-christian-rituals/ | access-date=2025-07-13 | archive-date=2024-12-04}}</ref><br />[[Zo people#Geography|Zo Unification]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://thewire.in/politics/mizoram-ahead-of-polls-mnfs-renewed-call-for-zo-unification-creates-political-flutter| title=Mizoram-ahead of polls mnf renewed call for zo unification creates political-flutter}}</ref><br />[[Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019|Anti-CAA]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nenow.in/north-east-news/people-of-mizoram-oppose-citizenship-bill-zoramthanga-tells-modi.html|title=People of Mizoram oppose Citizenship Bill: Zoramthanga tells Modi|date=15 January 2019 }}</ref>}}
|Political position=[[Right-wing politics|Right-wing]]<ref>{{Cite web | title=You are being redirected... | url=https://nagalandpost.com/index.php/mnf-govt-in-mizoram-to-take-oath-amidst-christian-rituals/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204091215/https://nagalandpost.com/index.php/mnf-govt-in-mizoram-to-take-oath-amidst-christian-rituals/ | access-date=2025-07-13 | archive-date=2024-12-04}}</ref>
|youth             = Mizo National Youth Front
|women             = Mizo National Women Front
|website           = {{URL|https://mnfparty.org/}}
|symbol            = [[File:Election Symbol Star.svg|100px]]
|party_name        = Mizo National Front
|colours           = {{Color box|{{party color|Mizo National Front}}}}
|state_seats_name  = [[Mizoram Legislative Assembly]]
|state_seats       = {{Composition bar|10|40|hex={{party color|Mizo National Front}}}}
|rajyasabha_leader = [[K. Vanlalvena]]
}}

The '''Mizo National Front''' ({{small|[[Abbreviation|abbr.]]}} '''MNF''') is a regional [[political party]] in [[Mizoram]], [[India]]. MNF emerged from the '''Mizo National Famine Front''', which was formed by [[Pu Laldenga]] to protest against the inaction of the [[Government of India]] towards the [[Mautam#1959 mautam famine|1959 famine]] in the [[Mizo people|Mizo]] areas of the [[Assam]] state. It staged a [[March 1966 Mizo National Front uprising|major uprising]] in 1966, followed by years of underground activities. In 1986, it signed the [[Mizoram Accord, 1986|Mizoram Accord]] with the Government of India, renouncing secession and violence. The MNF then began contesting elections and has formed state government in Mizoram three times. It is currently the state's opposition party, with its president, [[Zoramthanga]], as the Former [[Chief Minister of Mizoram]].<ref name="The Hindu Net Desk">{{Cite news|author=The Hindu Net Desk|date=2018-12-15|title=Who is Zoramthanga, the newly elected CM of Mizoram|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/elections/mizoram-assembly-elections-2018/who-is-zoramthanga-the-newly-elected-cm-of-mizoram/article25751510.ece|access-date=2021-10-12|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

==Origin==
In 1958, the Mizo Hills were devastated by the [[Mautam]], a cyclic phenomenon where the flowering of bamboo plants result in a plague of crop-eating rats, in turn causing a famine.<ref>{{Citation|last=Das Gupta|first=Malabika|title=Hunger, Governance Failure and Its Outcome: An Analysis of the Historical Experience of the Mizo Hills District of Undivided Assam|date=2017|url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-981-10-6274-2_18|work=Inequality, Poverty and Development in India|series=India Studies in Business and Economics |pages=351–362|editor-last=De|editor-first=Utpal Kumar|place=Singapore|publisher=Springer Singapore|doi=10.1007/978-981-10-6274-2_18|isbn=978-981-10-6273-5|access-date=2021-10-12|editor2-last=Pal|editor2-first=Manoranjan|editor3-last=Bharati|editor3-first=Premananda|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Nag|first=Sajal|date=2001|title=Tribals, Rats, Famine, State and the Nation|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4410428|journal=Economic and Political Weekly|volume=36|issue=12|pages=1029–1033|jstor=4410428 }}</ref>

Earlier in 1955, Mizo Cultural Society was formed, with Laldenga as its secretary. In March 1960, the name of the Mizo Cultural Society was changed to 'Mautam Front'.<ref>{{Citation|last1=Sati|first1=Vishwambhar Prasad|title=Geostrategic Location, Political History and Development|date=2017|url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-3-319-45623-2_3|work=A Sustainable Livelihood Approach to Poverty Reduction|pages=31–33|place=Cham|publisher=Springer International Publishing|doi=10.1007/978-3-319-45623-2_3|isbn=978-3-319-45622-5|access-date=2021-10-12|last2=Vangchhia|first2=Lalrinpuia|series=SpringerBriefs in Environmental Science |url-access=subscription}}</ref> During the famine of 1959–1960, this society took lead in demanding relief and attracted the attention of all sections of the people. In September 1960, the Society adopted the name Mizo National Famine Front (MNFF).<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-12-11|title=What is the Mizo National Front?|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/what-is/mizo-national-front-mnf-mizoram-results-5488114/|access-date=2021-10-12|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Dommen|first=Arthur J.|date=1967|title=Separatist Tendencies in Eastern India|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/2642421|journal=Asian Survey|volume=7|issue=10|pages=726–739|doi=10.2307/2642421|jstor=2642421 |issn=0004-4687|url-access=subscription}}</ref> The MNFF gained considerable popularity as a large number of Mizo Youth assisted in transporting rice and other essential commodities to interior villages.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Goswami|first=Namrata|date=2009|title=The Indian Experience of Conflict Resolution in Mizoram|url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09700160902907118|journal=Strategic Analysis|language=en|volume=33|issue=4|pages=579–589|doi=10.1080/09700160902907118|s2cid=154851791 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

==Underground movement==
{{Main|Mizo National Front uprising}}
The MNFF, which was originally formed to help ease the immense sufferings of the people during the severe Mautam Famine in Mizoram, was converted into Mizo National Front (MNF) on 22 October 1961.<ref name="goswami2">{{cite journal|last1=Goswami|first1=Namrata|date=2009|title=The Indian Experience of Conflict Resolution in Mizoram|journal=Strategic Analysis|volume=33|issue=4|pages=579–589|doi=10.1080/09700160902907118|s2cid=154851791}}</ref> The first OB leaders elected were, President [[Laldenga]], Vice President JF Manliana, General Secy. R. Vanlawma, and Treasurer Rochhinga and the ways in which the Indian authority of the day handled the famine left the people disillusioned. The wave of secessionist and armed insurrection was running high among the Mizos. In 1966, MNF led [[March 1966 Mizo National Front uprising|a major uprising]] against the government, but failed to gain administrative control of the Mizo district.<ref name=":0" /> The secessionist movement held on for about two decades. During that time, they invaded [[Burma]] claiming [[Chin State]] and [[Tahan]] belong to Mizoram since most of the resident in Tahan are Mizo.<ref name="nunthara">{{cite journal|last1=Nunthara|first1=C.|date=1981|title=Grouping of Villages in Mizoram: Its Social and Economic Impact|journal=Economic and Political Weekly|volume=16|issue=30|pages=1237, 1239–1240|jstor=4370043}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Dewen|first1=L.J.M.|date=2009|title=The Mizo People: Problems and Future|url=http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTotal-NYYZ200904005.htm|journal=South Asian Studies Quarterly|volume=4|page=5|access-date=12 October 2021|archive-date=22 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022222905/http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTotal-NYYZ200904005.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Peace settlement===
{{main|Mizoram Accord, 1986}}
This chapter of insurgency finally came to a close with the signing of the [[Mizoram Accord, 1986|Mizoram Accord]] on 30 June 1986 between the underground government of the Mizo National Front and the Government of India. Under the terms of the peace accord, Mizoram was granted statehood in February 1987.<ref name="sharma">{{cite web|last1=Sharma|first1=S.K.|date=2016|title=Lessons from Mizoram Insurgency and Peace Accord 1986|url=https://www.vifindia.org/sites/default/files/lessons-from-mizoram-insurgency-and-peace-accord-1986.pdf|website=www.vifindia.org|publisher=Vivekananda International Foundation|accessdate=24 December 2018}}</ref>

==Political party==
In [[1989 Mizoram Legislative Assembly election|the resulting election]], the Congress won, and the MNF would be in opposition until 1998. In 1990, Laldenga died, and was replaced by his former secretary and Finance Minister, [[Zoramthanga]]. In 1998 and 2003 MNF won the state assembly elections, and Zoramthanga was chief minister for 10 years.<ref name="anisha">{{cite news|last=Anisha|date=11 November 2013|title=Mizoram assembly polls 2013: A brief profile on Pu Zoramthanga|newspaper=One India News|url=http://news.oneindia.in/india/mizoram-assembly-polls-2013-brief-profile-on-pu-zoramthanga-1339392.html|access-date=20 January 2014}}</ref> In the 2003 elections MNF won 21 out of 40 seats in the state assembly, and got 132 505 votes (31.66%).<ref name="zee2">{{cite news|last=Neha Attre|date=9 November 2013|title=Mizoram CM candidate profile - Pu Zoramthanga|newspaper=Zee News|url=http://zeenews.india.com/assembly-elections-2013/mizoram-polls/mizoram-cm-candidate-profile-pu-zoramthanga_888811.html|access-date=20 January 2014}}</ref> The party was routed by the Congress in the [[2008 Mizoram Legislative Assembly election|2008 state election]], winning just 3 seats.<ref>{{cite web|title=2008 Elections Results|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/AE2008/Stats_report_MZ2008.pdf|publisher=ECI|access-date=21 May 2013}}</ref> It contested the 2013 state elections in alliance with the [[Mizoram People's Conference]], and won 5 seats to the Congress's 34.<ref name="The Hindu Net Desk"/> In [[2018 Mizoram Legislative Assembly election|the 2018 state assembly elections]], the MNF won 26 seats and returned to government.<ref>{{cite news|title=MNF sweeps Mizoram, northeast now 'Congress-mukt'|website=[[The Times of India]] |date=12 December 2018 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/mnf-sweeps-mizoram-north-east-now-congress-mukt/articleshow/67053567.cms}}</ref> The party lost power to the [[Zoram People's Movement]] during [[2023 Mizoram Legislative Assembly election|the 2023 state assembly elections]].

==Role in the national elections==
For the [[2014 Lok Sabha elections]], it formed an alliance called United Democratic Front with seven other parties including BJP, to contest the only seat in Mizoram.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/regional-india/triangular-contest-for-lone-mizoram-seat/|title=Triangular contest for lone Mizoram seat|date=2014-03-18|newspaper=Indian Express}}</ref> The MNF has been part of the [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]] since 2014<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kumar|first=Devesh|date=2014-05-20|title=BJP + 29 Parties = National Democratic Alliance|url=https://www.ndtv.com/elections-news/bjp-29-parties-national-democratic-alliance-562972|access-date=2021-10-12|website=NDTV}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-30|title=BJP-led northeast alliance stays off border row {{!}} India News – The Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/bjp-led-northeast-alliance-stays-off-border-row/articleshow/84875804.cms|access-date=2021-10-12|website=timesofindia.indiatimes.com|language=en}}</ref>

== Election results ==
=== Mizoram Legislative Assembly ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! style="background-color:{{party color|Mizo National Front}}; color:white" | Year
! style="background-color:{{party color|Mizo National Front}}; color:white" | Party leader
! style="background-color:{{party color|Mizo National Front}}; color:white" | Seats won
! style="background-color:{{party color|Mizo National Front}}; color:white" | Change in seats
! style="background-color:{{party color|Mizo National Front}}; color:white" | Vote %
! style="background-color:{{party color|Mizo National Front}}; color:white" | Vote swing
! style="background-color:{{party color|Mizo National Front}}; color:white" | Outcome
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[1987 Mizoram Legislative Assembly election|1987]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Laldenga]]
|{{Composition bar|24|40|{{party color|Mizo National Front}}}}
| {{increase}} 24
| 43.31%
| New
| {{yes2|Government}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[1989 Mizoram Legislative Assembly election|1989]]
|{{Composition bar|14|40|{{party color|Mizo National Front}}}}
| {{decrease}} 10
| 35.29%
| {{decrease}}  8.02%
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[1993 Mizoram Legislative Assembly election|1993]]
| rowspan="7" |[[Zoramthanga]]
|{{Composition bar|14|40|{{party color|Mizo National Front}}}}
| {{steady}}
| 40.41%
| {{increase}} 5.12%
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[1998 Mizoram Legislative Assembly election|1998]]
|{{Composition bar|21|40|{{party color|Mizo National Front}}}}
| {{increase}} 7
| 24.99%
| {{decrease}} 15.42%
| {{yes2|Government}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[2003 Mizoram Legislative Assembly election|2003]]
|{{Composition bar|21|40|{{party color|Mizo National Front}}}}
| {{steady}}
| 31.69%
| {{increase}} 6.70%
| {{yes2|Government}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[2008 Mizoram Legislative Assembly election|2008]]
|{{Composition bar|3|40|{{party color|Mizo National Front}}}}
| {{decrease}} 18
| 30.65%
| {{decrease}} 1.04%
| {{partial|Others}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[2013 Mizoram Legislative Assembly election|2013]]
|{{Composition bar|5|40|{{party color|Mizo National Front}}}}
| {{increase}} 2
| 28.65%
| {{decrease}} 2.00%
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[2018 Mizoram Legislative Assembly election|2018]]
|{{Composition bar|26|40|{{party color|Mizo National Front}}}}
| {{increase}} 21
| 37.70%
| {{increase}} 9.05%
| {{yes2|Government}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[2023 Mizoram Legislative Assembly election|2023]]
|{{Composition bar|10|40|{{party color|Mizo National Front}}}}
| {{decrease}} 16
| 35.10%
| {{decrease}} 2.6%
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|}

== List of Chief Ministers ==
[[File:The Chief Minister, Mizoram, Shri Zoramthanga calls on the Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss to discuss various issues related to Health in the State, in New Delhi on September 08, 2006 (cropped).jpg|thumb|200px|{{small|Zoramthanga, Party President and former Chief Minister of Mizoram.}}]]
{{main|List of chief ministers of Mizoram}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of Chief Ministers of Mizoram
! style="background-color:#70A548;color:white;"|Name
! style="background-color:#70A548;color:white;"|Tenure
! style="background-color:#70A548;color:white;"|Length
|-
| [[Laldenga]]
| 21 August 1986 – 7 September 1988
| {{age in years and days|1986|8|21|1988|9|7}}
|-
| rowspan=3|[[Zoramthanga]]
| 3 December 1998 – 4 December 2003
| rowspan=3|15 years, 0 days
|-
| 4 December 2003 – 11 December 2008
|-
| 15 December 2018 – 5 December 2023
|}

== Current Party Officers ==
[[File:Mizo National Front Office.JPG|200px|thumb|MNF Office]]

As of the latest party election in 2019, the officers are:<ref>{{Cite news|agency=Press Trust of India|date=2019-11-28|title=Mizoram CM elected unopposed as MNF president|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/mizoram-cm-elected-unopposed-as-mnf-president-119112801102_1.html|access-date=2021-10-12}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Current Party Officers
! style="background-color:#70A548;color:white;"|Position
! style="background-color:#70A548;color:white;"|Officer
|-
| President
| [[Zoramthanga]]
|-
| Senior Vice President
| [[Tawnluia]]
|-
| Vice Presidents
| [[Vanlalzawma]] and [[Lalthlengliana]]
|-
| Treasurer
| K. Vanlalauva
|}

==See also==
* [[Mizoram People's Conference]]
* [[Zoram Nationalist Party]]
* [[Zoram People's Movement]]
* [[Indian National Congress]]
* [[Political parties in Mizoram]]
* [[List of political parties in India]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/mizoram/documents/papers/mizoram_accord_1986.htm Peace Accord 1986]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040806232658/http://www.mizoram.nic.in/mp.htm MPs of Mizoram] (archived 6 August 2004)
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTfJgMRyMAE Mizo National Front campaign song recorded 1993] (video on [[YouTube]])

{{Mizoram}}
{{Indian political parties}}
{{North-East Democratic Alliance}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Mizo National Front| ]]
[[Category:Political parties in Mizoram]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1961]]
[[Category:1961 establishments in Assam]]