Aizawl, February 19: The Mizoram Pradesh Youth Congress Committee (MPYCC) on Wednesday conducted a site inspection of an under-construction building at Chawlhhmun, reportedly belonging to Chief Minister Lalduhoma, and alleged that the rapid rise in his assets has raised serious public concern.
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| Youth Congress members inspect the under-construction residence at Chawlhhmun during their site visit in Aizawl. (TNP) |
In a statement issued after visiting the site on February 18, the Youth Congress claimed that Lalduhoma - whom they described as Mizoram’s shortest-serving Chief Minister - may soon surpass all former Chief Ministers of the state in terms of personal wealth. The youth wing said the scale and pace of construction have triggered questions among the public.
Recalling the 2021 Serchhip by-election campaign, the MPYCC stated that Lalduhoma had at the time portrayed himself as financially strained. According to the Youth Congress, he had publicly said that he had no money, described the by-election as a heavy burden, and mentioned that he had not yet cleared debts incurred during previous elections. The organisation said he had projected himself as being in a modest and financially difficult position.
However, the Youth Congress alleged that even before his swearing-in as Chief Minister, groundwork and levelling for a multi-storey residence had begun at Chawlhhmun. They claimed that extensive earthwork continued for nearly a month, from early morning until late at night, drawing public attention and suspicion.
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The youth body also linked the construction project to controversies surrounding land transactions near Lengpui Airport. It questioned whether there was any connection between the residence project and what it described as a hurried movement of land-related files under the ZPM-led government.
Citing documents, the Youth Congress stated that the building plan was prepared by Hrangthanga Zote (Registration No. A/AMC/2011/13), and that the listed owner of the property is Ruata, son of Lalduhoma. The proposed structure is designed as a six-storey building above the ground floor. The ground floor measures 66 square metres, while the first to sixth floors measure 150 sq m, 226 sq m, 352 sq m, 443 sq m, 504 sq m and 504 sq m respectively, bringing the total built-up area to approximately 2,245 square metres.
The Youth Congress also referred to a previous television interview in which Lalduhoma had highlighted his past experience - including service as a Chief Minister’s Personal Assistant, an IPS officer, a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha, and five terms as an MLA - to assert that he was financially capable of constructing his own house. However, the youth wing questioned whether such explanations sufficiently addressed concerns about the source of funds.
Responding to the Chief Minister’s claim that the construction is being financed through a loan availed in 2025 under the SBI-backed UNNATI Scheme, the Youth Congress dismissed the explanation as misleading. It stated that the UNNATI Scheme is intended to support hotels, homestays, restaurants, hospitals and industrial ventures, particularly for plant and machinery expansion, and allows beneficiaries to claim significant subsidies. The youth body alleged that of 16 applicants who sought subsidy under the scheme, only three have been approved so far, and that applications reportedly associated with the Chief Minister’s son had faced repeated rejections, with a fresh application still pending.
The Youth Congress further alleged that the timing of the house construction, ongoing land-related developments near Lengpui, and reports that the Council of Ministers had considered filing an FIR seeking a CBI inquiry, together raised serious concerns about possible irregularities.
While acknowledging that prosperity in itself is not unusual, the organisation maintained that public office demands transparency and accountability, particularly regarding land dealings and financial sources.
