# List of chief ministers of Mizoram

The chief minister of Mizoram is the chief executive of the Indian state of Mizoram. As per the Constitution of India, the governor is a state's de jure head, but de facto executive authority rests with the chief minister. Following elections to the Mizoram Legislative Assembly, the state's governor usually invites the party (or coalition) with a majority of seats to form the government. The governor appoints the chief minister, whose council of ministers are collectively responsible to the assembly. Given that he has the confidence of the assembly, the chief minister's term is for five years and is subject to no term limits.
Since 1972, five people from four parties have served as chief minister of Mizoram; the inaugural officeholder was Ch. Chhunga. Lal Thanhawla of the Indian National Congress has the longest incumbency of over 21 years in 5 terms. The current incumbent is Lalduhoma of the Zoram People's Movement who assumed office on 8 December 2023.

## History

After Indian independence, the democratic change in the administrative setup of Mizoram led to an anti-chief movement. The feeling was widespread against the autocratic chiefs and for the Mizo Union. In 1955, at a meeting of representatives of various Mizo villages held in Aizawl, the demand arose for a separate hills state. The local people felt they had been ill-served by the Assam Government during the Mautam famine.
When in 1960 the government introduced Assamese as the official language of the state, there were many protests against the Official Language Act of 1961. That was followed by the March 1966 Mizo National Front uprising, resulting in attacks on the military installations in Aizawl, Lunglei and other towns. The Mizo National Front, formerly known as Mizo National Famine Front, declared independence from India.
The Indian government designated Mizoram as a union territory on 21 January 1972. Pu Laldenga, the president of the Mizo National Front, signed a peace accord in 1986 with the Government of India, stating Mizoram was an integral part of India. Pu Laldenga came to the ministry in the interim government, which was formed in coalition with Congress in 1987. The statehood of Mizoram was proclaimed on 20 February 1987.

## Leaders of the Lushai Hills

| Number | Name | Term of Office | Term of Office | Notes |
| Political Officers of the North Lushai Hills |||||
| 1 | Captain H.R Browne | 1890 | 1890 | Captain Browne was assigned the first political officer of the North Lushai Hills. His headquarters were in Aizawl. Browne's chief responsibility as political officer was to disarm the Lushai tribes. Browne held a chief's conference on 13 June 1890 at Fort Aijal and declared the suspension of chieftainship for Jarok and Lengpunga for the Chengri Valley raid. A fine for 15 guns was additionally imposed. Browne did not enact harsh measures on Lengpunga as he did not wish to antagonize a prestigious and influential chief. On his way from Aizawl to Changsil post, Browne was ambushed by a western chief, Thonsuma. Outnumbered with only 16 soldiers all sepoys were killed and one escaped to relay the news. As a result, Brown was killed 6 September 1890. Browne's weapons were looted and he was brought to Changsil post fifteen minutes later where he died. Ater his death, Khalkama was emboldened to raid Fort Aijal. |
| 2 | R.B McCabe | 1890 | 1892 | R.B McCabe was the political officer to introduce taxes and the coolie system of quotas for Mizo youths at low wages. The coolie system and quotas would continue until abolishment in 1953. His administration saw Rev William Williams visit with the first influence of Christianity in the Lushai Hills. |
| 3 | A.W Davis | 1892 | 1894 | A.W Davis renounced Aizawl as the capital and renamed it Fort Aijal and staffed it with 100 soldiers. |
| 4 | Granville Henry Loch (Acting) | 1893 | 1894 | G.H Loch is responsible for the development of Aizawl into a city and the establishment of roads and infrastructure around the Lushai Hills. Loch was responsible for building the Lammual, a field for military drills. He is also known for giving a printing press to the Mizo Presbyterian Church, now known as the Loch Printing Press. |
| 5 | A.W Davis | 1893 | 1894 | |
| 6 | A. Porteous | 1894 | 1897 | A. Porteus built two outposts at Siallukawt and Serchhip villages. He is also known for presiding over the arrival of Frederick William Savidge and James Herbert Lorrain, who contributed to the creation of the Mizo alphabet and the official beginning of the Christianization of the Lushai Hills. |
| 7 | Major John Shakespear | 1897 | 1898 | The North and South Lushai Hills were merged. Shakespear continued as Superintendent. |
| Superintendents of the South Lushai Hills |||||
| 1 | C.S. Murray | 1 April 1891 | 16 April 1891 | Captian C.S Murray was a military officer in the Government of Bengal. He was assigned to the Lushai Hills on account of his achievements in subduing the Bhutias and Lepchas in Darjeeling and his participation in the Chin-Lushai Expedition. Murray held a chief's durbar on 3 April 1890 explaining the intentions of the British government Murray was sacked from his position after a court case by Zakapa. Murray attempted to demand women for sex and insulted Zakapa by threatening to take his wife upon refusal. Zakapa attacked Murray and managed to decapitate two sepoys before Murray burned the village. He was replaced by Shakespear, who stood by Zakapa in court. |
| 2 | Captain John Shakespear | 1891 | 1896 | Brokered a settlement with Chieftainess Darbilhi to allow the establishment of Fort Tregear.Became a foster brother to Darbilhi. Led the expedition and capture of Ropuiliani and her son Lalthuama, the central resistance to British rule. |
| 3 | R.H Sneyd Hutchinson | 1896 | 1898 | After Zakapa's rebellion on Murray's injudicious conduct, Hutchinson was assigned to quell the South Lushai rebellion of 1891 in February. Hutchinson failed to capture Zakapa but succeeded in capturing Zakapa's allies: Lalthuma, Dakopa, Kapchunga and Lemkam. Hutchinson was further assigned to conciliate the tribes of Vantura (Howlong) and Tonglion (Lakher). He undertook a risk and met with Vantura who had been shot by Tonglion's men and died in Hutchinson's arms. After torturing the women of Zakapa's clan, Hutchinson failed to attain his whereabouts and capture him. Hutchinson was later reassigned to his original office of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. |
| Superintendents of the Lushai Hills District |||||
| 1 | Major John Shakespear | 1898 | 1899 | |
| 2 | Captain H.W.G Cole | 1899 | 1900 | H.W.G Cole was responsible for abolishing the title of political officer and changing it to superintendent. Cole erected tombstones of Queen Victoria in every village in Mizoram and held a torch ceremony for the coronation of Edward VII. His rule saw harsh punishment on distrubances of the peace such as the hanging of three cutthroat robbers. He is also responsible for the circle system which limited and demarcated the jurisdiction of chiefs and their possible migrations for jhumming cycles. He embarked on a policy of limiting chief power by creating more chiefs and involving within the institution of Mizo chieftainship more deeply. He oversaw the first school in Mizoram opening in 1899. |
| 3 | Major John Shakespear | 1900 | 1903 | Shakespeare further contributed to the administration by creating 11 blocks in Northern Mizoram subdivision and 7 blocks in the Southern Mizoram subdivision. |
| 4 | L.O Clarke (Acting) | 1903 | 1904 | |
| 5 | Major John Shakespear | 1904 | 1905 | |
| 6 | Major John Campbell Arbuthnott | 1905 | 1905 | |
| 7 | Major Granville Henry Loch | 1905 | 1906 | |
| 8 | Major H.W.G Cole | 1905 | 1911 | H.W.G Cole is also credited with the encouragement of farming potatoes in Mizoram. He established a bazaar in Aizawl in 1909. Cole was also the superintdent during Peter Fraser's campaign against the Bawi system of the Lushai Hills. Cole deported Fraser, but Fraser managed to bring the issue to parliament with the help of Lloyd George and succeeded. Cole left the Lushai Hills as a result. |
| 9 | Major W. Kennedy | 1911 | 1912 | Kennedy oversaw the mautam famine of 1911. Kennedy took initiative in addressing the issue with an application for a loan of Rs. 800,000 from the British Raj government. |
| 10 | F.C Henniker | 1912 | 1912 | F.C Henniker worked with Mizo elders and scholars on researching the nature of the mautam famine. With assistance, he was the first administrator to map out the upcoming famines and realize their cyclical nature as an ecological phenomenon. |
| 11 | Major Granville Henry Loch | 1912 | 1913 | |
| 12 | J Hezlett | 1913 | 1917 | J Hezlett worked towards repaying the debts of responding to the mautam famine under Kennedy. He oversaw Lushai volunteers for World War One to fight against Germany. |
| 13 | H.A.C Colguhoun | 1917 | 1919 | Colguhun oversaw the Spanish flu's influence in Mizoram. Lushai volunteers from World War One had developed immunity and were in charge of digging graves for the victims. |
| 14 | W.L Scott | 1919 | 1921 | W.L Scott opened the Assam Rifles to Mizo volunteers. He is also credited with defending Tripura's claims to Mizo territory. |
| 15 | S.N Mackenzie | 1921 | 1922 | |
| 16 | W.L Scott | 1922 | 1923 | |
| 17 | S.N Mackenzie | 1923 | 1924 | |
| 18 | N.E Parry | 1924 | 1928 | Parry oversaw the development of changes in the Lushai Hills in his four-year administration, which concerned the preservation of indigenous culture and codification of customary law. |
| 19 | G.G.G Heime | 1928 | 1932 | Presided over a period of intense rainfall which led to logistical issues and stoppage of services such as mail and food. This period is known as Minpui Kum. Helme tried to control the population of Aizawl and began a program of deporting excess dwellers into outlying villages. Exemptions were provided to government workers, missionaries and vulnerable individuals. |
| 20 | Major Anthony Gilchrist McCall | 1931 | 1943 | |
| 21 | A.R.H MacDonald | 1943 | 1945 | |
| 22 | J. Dumbreck | 1945 | 1945 | |
| 23 | A.I Bowman | 1945 | 1946 |
| 24 | Captain D.A Penn | 1946 | 1947 | |
| 25 | Leonard Lamb Peters | 1947 | 1949 | |

## List of chief ministers
### Prime ministers (1919-50)

Under the Government of India Act 1935, a bicameral legislature was set up with a legislative assembly and a legislative council. The premier of Assam was the head of the government and leader of the legislative assembly of Assam Province.
| # | Portrait | Name | Term of office | Term of office | Party (coalition) |
| 1 | | Ghanashyam Baruah | 1919 | 1923 | |
| 2 | | Pramod Chandra Dutta | 1923 | 1926 | |
| 3 | | Maulavi Saiyid Muhammad Saadulla | 1926 | 1929 | |
| 4 | | Maulavi Abdul Hamid | 1929 | 1937 | |
| 5 | | Muhammed Saadulah | 1 April 1937 | 19 September 1938 | Assam Valley Party (INC) |
| 6 | | Gopinath Bordoloi | 19 September 1938 | 17 November 1939 | Indian National Congress |
| (5) | | Muhammed Saadulah | 17 November 1939 | 24 December 1941 | Assam Valley Party (AIML) |
| - | - | Vacant (Governor's Rule) | 25 December 1941 | 24 August 1942 | N/A |
| (5) | | Muhammed Saadulah | 25 August 1942 | 11 February 1946 | Assam Valley Party (AIML) |
| (6) | | Gopinath Bordoloi | 11 February 1946 | 25 January 1950 | Indian National Congress |

### Chief ministers

| # | Name | Constituency | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Assembly | Party |
| 1 | Gopinath Bordoloi | Kamrup Sadar (South) | 26 January 1950 | 5 August 1950 | 191 days | 2nd Provincial (1946 election) | Indian National Congress |
| 2 | Bishnuram Medhi | Hajo | 9 August 1950 | 28 December 1957 | 7 years, 141 days | 2nd Provincial (1946 election) | Indian National Congress |
| 2 | Bishnuram Medhi | Hajo | 9 August 1950 | 28 December 1957 | 7 years, 141 days | 1st (1952 election) | Indian National Congress |
| 2 | Bishnuram Medhi | Hajo | 9 August 1950 | 28 December 1957 | 7 years, 141 days | 2nd (1957 election) | Indian National Congress |
| 3 | Bimala Prasad Chaliha | Badarpur | 28 December 1957 | 11 November 1970 | 12 years, 318 days | 2nd (1957 election) | Indian National Congress |
| 3 | Bimala Prasad Chaliha | Sonari | 28 December 1957 | 11 November 1970 | 12 years, 318 days | 3rd (1962 election) | Indian National Congress |
| 3 | Bimala Prasad Chaliha | Sonari | 28 December 1957 | 11 November 1970 | 12 years, 318 days | 4th (1967 election) | Indian National Congress |
| 4 | Mahendra Mohan Choudhry | Guwahati East | 11 November 1970 | 31 January 1972 | 1 year, 81 days | 4th (1967 election) | Indian National Congress |

## List

| No | Portrait | Name | Term | Term | Assembly (Election) | Party |
| 1 | | Laldenga | 28 February 1966 | 19 February 1971 | Mizo National Front | |
| 1 | | Laldenga | 20 February 1971 | 30 June 1986 | Mizo National Front | |

## List

S.J.Das was the chief commissioner of Mizoram from 21 January 1972 to 23 April 1972. He was followed by these Lieutenant Governors:
| # | Name | Portrait | Took office | Left office |
| — | S. P. Mukherjee | | 21 January 1972 | 3 May 1972 |

### List

| No | Name | Constituency | Term | Term | Assembly (Election) | Party | Party |
| 1 | C. Chhunga | Kolasib | 3 May 1972 | 10 May 1977 | 1st (1972 election) | Mizo Union | |
| – | Vacant (President's rule) | N/A | 11 May 1977 | 1 June 1978 | | N/A | N/A |
| 2 | T. Sailo | Aizawl North | 2 June 1978 | 10 November 1978 | 2nd (1978 election) | Mizoram People's Conference | |
| – | Vacant (President's rule) | N/A | 10 November 1978 | 8 May 1979 | | N/A | N/A |
| (2) | T. Sailo | Aizawl North | 8 May 1979 | 4 May 1984 | 3rd (1979 election) | Mizoram People's Conference | |
| 3 | Lal Thanhawla | Serchhip | 5 May 1984 | 20 August 1986 | 4th (1984 election) | Indian National Congress | |

### List

| No | Name | Constituency | Term | Term | Assembly (Election) | Party |
| 4 | Laldenga | Aizawl North II | 21 August 1986 | 19 February 1987 | Mizo National Front | |
| 4 | Laldenga | Aizawl North II | 20 February 1987 | 7 September 1988 | Mizo National Front | 5th (1987 election) |
| – | Vacant (President's rule) | N/A | 7 September 1988 | 24 January 1989 | N/A | 5th (1987 election) |
| (3) | Lal Thanhawla | Serchhip | 24 January 1989 | 7 December 1993 | 6th (1989 election) | Indian National Congress |
| (3) | Lal Thanhawla | Serchhip | 8 December 1993 | 3 December 1998 | 7th (1993 election) | Indian National Congress |
| 5 | Zoramthanga | Champhai | 3 December 1998 | 4 December 2003 | 8th (1998 election) | Mizo National Front |
| 5 | Zoramthanga | Champhai | 4 December 2003 | 11 December 2008 | 9th (2003 election) | Mizo National Front |
| (3) | Lal Thanhawla | Serchhip | 11 December 2008 | 11 December 2013 | 10th (2008 election) | Indian National Congress |
| (3) | Lal Thanhawla | Serchhip | 12 December 2013 | 14 December 2018 | 11th (2013 election) | Indian National Congress |
| (5) | Zoramthanga | Aizawl East 1 | 15 December 2018 | 7 December 2023 | 12th (2018 election) | Mizo National Front |
| 6 | Lalduhoma | Serchhip | 8 December 2023 | Incumbent | 13th (2023 election) | Zoram People's Movement |

## Statistics
### List by chief minister

| # | Chief Minister | Party | Party | Term of office | Term of office |
| # | Chief Minister | Party | Party | Longest continuous term | Total duration of chief ministership |
| 1 | Lal Thanhawla | | INC | 10 years, 3 days | 22 years, 58 days |
| 2 | Zoramthanga | | MNF | 10 years, 8 days | 15 years, 0 days |
| 3 | T. Sailo | | MPC | 4 years, 362 days | 5 years, 158 days |
| 4 | C. Chhunga | | MU | 5 years, 7 days | 5 years, 7 days |
| 5 | Laldenga | | MNF | 2 years, 17 days | 2 years, 17 days |
| 6 | Lalduhoma | | ZPM | 1 year, 99 days | 1 year, 99 days |