Mizoram: Lal Thanhawla to re-assume office Saturday

The Congress is leading in the constituency.

Thanhawla, who will assume the chief minister's office for a fifth term, won from two assembly seats -- Serchhip and Hrangturzo (both in central Mizoram) -- defeating his MNF and MPC rivals respectively.

Thanhawla, also the state Congress chief who established the party's base in the Christian-dominated and tribal majority northeastern state in the '70s, has been elected to the assembly for a record ninth time since 1978.

Thanhawla, a former journalist, first became chief minister in 1984.