A two-time chief minister Lalthanhawla is regarded as one of the tallest leaders of Mizoram.
At present the state Congress chief, he faces corruption charges and is being investigated by Central intelligence agencies for alleged misappropriation of government funds during his tenure as chief minister until 1998.
Besides, he also faces a revolt-like situation within his party, with a faction of Congress leaders having refused his leadership during the coming Nov 20 polls. The party was most-likely to break up ahead of the polls as the Congress high command has refused to entertain demands for his ouster as the state Congress president.
Known as a determined politician, he was reappointed the Congress chief despite his party suffering worst ever defeat at the hustings in Mizoram in 1998 elections. He was the CM then.
In the state's party elections after the party loss, Lalthanhawla and his followers secured nearly 80 per cent votes, bagging all important posts in the party.
He had been the CM from May 5, 1984 to August 20, 1986 and then from January 24, 1989 to December 3, 1993. He served as the CM once again from December 8, 1993 to 3.12.1998 before he was replaced by Pu Zoramthanga of Mizo National Front.