New Delhi: In a blow to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s expansion plan in Mizoram, the party’s hold over the Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) has been lost due to inner party squabbles and defection.The BJP had grabbed power in the 20-member CADC on February 4, 2025 for the first time in its history since the council’s formation in 1972. Mizoram has three autonomous district councils (ADCs) set up under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.The BJP gaining control over CADC four months ago was looked at in the state as a big win for the national party as it had failed to retain in the 2023 assembly elections the single seat it had won in the Chakma dominated areas in the 2018 assembly elections.In 2023, though BJP had lost the sole assembly seat (Tuichawang) it had won in the Chakma areas in 2018 with the help of Budhan Chandra Chakma who had defected to the party from the Congress then, it had managed to better its tally in the 2023 polls by one seat, having made inroads into the state’s Mara community.In 2023, it could pocket the Palak and Beichuwa seats. That win was possible also because in 2017, the BJP had swept the Mara Autonomous District Council elections after the Mara Democratic Front had merged with it. Maras are Mizoram’s second influential community after the Mizos.No confidence motion against the BJP in special sessionHowever, in a special session called this June 16 by the Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) chairman Lakkan Chakma where a no confidence motion was moved against the BJP, its chief executive member of the (CEM) Molin Kumar Chakma was voted out of power.The no-confidence motion was moved by the ruling Zoram People’s Party (ZPM), a part of the BJP’s North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) which had pulled off a massive win in the 2023 polls.According to Mizoram Post quoting CADC officials, of the 17 elected members who voted in the June 16 motion, 15 had voted against the BJP and one in its favour. The lone Mizo National Front (MNF) member abstained from voting.This change of power took place after 12 of the BJP’s members including the chairman Lakkan Chakma, had moved to ZPM recently. The Council now has 16 members from ZPM, two from the BJP and one from MNF, said the news report.One seat has remained vacant after a BJP member had passed away in April. The Council also has four nominated members too.The news report added, “ZPM is yet to stake claim to form the next executive committee in the CADC.”Aside from the Chakma and the Mara councils, Mizoram also has the Lai Autonomous District Council set up under the Sixth Schedule. It is governed by the MNF with one seat belonging to the Congress.