Lal Thanhawla (born May 6, 1942) has been the Chief Minister of Mizoram since December 11, 2008. He successfully contested the 2008 Mizoram Assembly Election in Serchhip and South Tuipui. His party, the Indian National Congress, resoundingly won that election with 32 MLAs.

He is the son of Hmartawnphunga Sailo and Lalsawmliani Chawngthu. He passed his matriculation examination in 1958, his intermediate examination in arts in 1961. Thereafter he briefly attended the Scottish Church College of the University of Calcutta. Later he finished his BA in 1964 from Ajal College, which was then affiliated with Gauhati University. He currently resides in Zarkawt Veng, Aizawl.

Lal Thanhawla started his career as Recorder in the office of Inspector of Schools in the District Council. After that, he joined the Assam Co-operative Apex Bank as Assistant. In 1966, he joined the Mizo National Front as Secretary till 1967 when he joined the Indian National Congress party after he was released from jail in Silchar. In 1973 he was elected Party President. In 1978 and 1979 he was elected as a Legislator in Union Territory Elections. In 1984, under his Leadership, the Congress party swept the state and he became Chief Minister. In 1986, when the Peace accord was signed between India and MNF, he gave up his Chief Ministership as party of the agreement to Pu Laldenga. In the first State MLA elections of Mizoram in 1987 he was elected as Chief Minister and continued to serve as Chief Minister after being re-elected in the 1989 and 1993 Elections. He lost his MLA seat in 1998 but got it back in the 2003 elections. Currently he is elected from both Serchhip & South Tuipui Constituency.

Zoramthanga (born 13 July 1944) was the Chief Minister of Mizoram, India, from December 1998 to December 2008. His party, the Mizo National Front, lost the 2008 Assembly elections to the Indian National Congress. He tendered his resignation to Governor MM Lakhera on 8 December 2008 and left office 3 days later. He has cited Incumbency as reason for the loss of his party. He contested both North & South Champhai and lost both constituencies.

Zoramthanga was born to Mr.Darphunga and Mrs.Vanhnuaichhingi to be the second youngest child of their eight children. He has five brothers and three sisters. Pu Zoramthanga was born on 13 July 1944 at Samthang village.

He joined primary School in the year 1950. In 1954, he joined middle school at South Khawbung and finished at the school in 1956 after he passed standard six. In 1957, he went on to join Champhai Gandhi Memorial High School as a student of standard seven. He finished his high school at Champhai from Samthang village in 1960. He finished his college from D.M. College, Manipur.