Mizoram Assembly Speaker Lalrinliana Sailo to join BJP

The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) in Mizoram suffered a jolt on Wednesday when Lalrinliana Sailo quit as the Speaker of the Assembly and the MLA.

Sources said Sailo would join the BJP on Thursday. The 64-year-old had been the MLA for four terms, three of which were with the Congress.

Sailo is the third sitting MLA to switch parties in the run-up to the November 7 Assembly polls in the northeastern state.

While announcing its candidates for 40 seats, the MNF didn't field Sailo from his sitting seat of Chalfilh and instead nominated K. Lalhmangaiha.

A senior BJP leader told The Telegraph that Sailo would contest the polls as the party's nominee but his seat was yet to be decided on.