The top five leaders of the Mizo National Front, Mizoram's main opposition party, retained their posts in the party without the need for any internal election on Friday due to a no-contest inspite of suffering its two worst electoral defeats in the past decade. The party that ruled Mizoram for two consecutive terms between 1998 and 2008 was decimated in the 2008 state-wide elections and reduced to occupying just three of the assembly's 40 seats. It slightly improved its tally in 2013 and won five seats. Nevertheless, the main opposition party's top five leaders have once again retained the exact same posts they have been occupying. Former two-term CM Zoramthanga will remain President, former Home Minister Tawnluia Senior Vice President and former Health Minister R Tlanghmingthanga and former Education Minister Dr R Lalthangliana both as Vice-Presidents. Former MP Vanlalzawma will meanwhile remain the party's Treasurer. He is the only one among the top five leaders who is an MLA and currently remains the Leader of Opposition. "That the same leaders did not face any competition and retained their old positions shows the MNF remains "the leader of the Mizo community and it's internal unity," the party said in a statement.
