Pradesh Cong hopes for return of 'lost son'

Aizawl, Jan 13 (UNI) Congress MLA Zodintluanga today said the Mizoram Congress Committee is planning to welcome J Lalsangzuala back into the Congress Bhavan.

Speaking to UNI over the phone, Mr Zodintluanga said, ''Negotiations are on with J Lalsangzuala and we are happy with how things are going.'' He added that Mr Lalsangzuala visited the bhavan three days ago for the first time in two years. ''There is a strong likelihood that the top leaders of the MPC would come back into the MPCC. Our senior vice-president (MLA R Lalzirliana) and vice-president are ready to vacate their posts to make way for our former colleagues to come back into the party.

''If this happens, the Congress party is going to be much stronger than before,'' the Congress MLA added.

Incidentally, some Congress stalwarts, including two standing MLAs Saikapthianga and Liansuama led by former Congress Finance Minister J Lalsangzuala split the MPCC and floated a new party, the Mizoram Congress Party(MCP) on August 17, 2005. This was due to Mr Lal Thanhawla's alleged refusal to step down as party president.

The new party went on to become the ruling Mizo National Front's partner.

However, a member of the executive committee said Mr Liansuama would never be welcomed back into the party because ''he had gone too far in betraying the trust placed on him.'' Notably, contrary to MNF supremo and Chief Minister Zoramthanga's statement that it had been agreed to renew the MNF-MCP alliance for this year's state assembly polls, Mr Lalsangzuala has made it clear that his party had made no committment yet with any party.

State Congress chief Lal Thanhawla had while addressing the press at the Congress Bhavan here a few days back, said the Congress would embrace those who had left the party and were now willing to return.

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