Laldenga was a Mizo separatist and politician from Mizoram in northeast India.
25 Facts About Laldenga
1.
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Laldenga was the founder of the Mizo National Front, a social organisation turned political party.
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Laldenga was the first Chief Minister of Mizoram as a federated state, the office of which he held from 1986 to 1988.
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Originally a Havildar in the Indian Army, Laldenga later worked as an Accounts Clerk in the Government of Assam.
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Laldenga was captured many times, and spent most of his time in exile in Bangladesh.
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Laldenga won the first Mizoram Legislative Assembly election under statehood in 1987, and continued at the Chief Minister office for another year.
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Laldenga, the fourth child of a cultivator Liantlira Ralte and Darchhungi Hnamte, was born on 11 June 1927 in village Pukpui in the Mizo district of Assam.
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Laldenga joined the Indian Army in 1944 and served up to Havildar.
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Laldenga resigned from the army and joined civil service as Accounts Supervisor under District Council office in Aizawl.
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Laldenga joined a voluntary organisation called Mizo Cultural Society, formed in 1955, as its Secretary.
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Laldenga took the support from Pakistan for the separatist movement and was arrested and jailed by Indian authorities.
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Laldenga returned to India for peace talks in 1976, but the terms of negotiations failed in 1982.
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Laldenga met him on 15 February 1985, and peace settlement was on its way.
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Laldenga became an interim Chief Minister, as the sitting Chief Minister Lalthanhawla stepped down to Deputy Chief Minister.
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Laldenga headed a coalition government in Aizawl on 21 August 1986.
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On 3rd September 1986, Laldenga proposed rehabilitation policies for returnees of the MNF struggle.
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Laldenga's party secured 25 seats while the Congress got 12 and People's Party got 3.
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However, Laldenga dismissed his chief secretary Lalkhama and became more despotic.
19.
The nature of political favours in the MNF led to many part members being discontented with Laldenga's rule leading to a split of the party into two factions around Laldenga.
20.
Laldenga treated the spoilers of the peace accord with harsh punishments to distance his connection from the offshoot organization.
21.
Laldenga's soon assigned H Rummawia who was of the People's Conference and of the MLA organization.
22.
Laldenga promised the dissidents of his party future cabinet positions.
23.
Laldenga was accused of corruption by constructing a palatial building for himself.
24.
Laldenga's rise to power had encouraged zealous Christians to attempt forceful conversions of Chakma individuals.
25.
Laldenga never rose to political arena again due to chronic lung cancer.