AIZAWL, August 5: The Mizoram government on Monday firmly denied allegations that it plans to relocate the state capital from Aizawl to Thenzawl, clarifying that a clerical mistake in an official letter led to the widespread misunderstanding.

The controversy erupted after the Mizo National Front (MNF), the state’s principal opposition party, accused Chief Minister Lalduhoma of secretly working to shift the capital and allegedly seeking central funds for the move. MNF general secretary Zodinpuia cited a letter dated April 24 from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs addressed to the Mizoram chief secretary and the state’s resident commissioner in Delhi. The letter reportedly referred to a “shifting of the state capital” and called for a Detailed Project Report (DPR) on the issue.

In response, the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM)-led government dismissed the allegation, stating that the mention of capital relocation was due to a clerical error. The state’s Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation Department clarified that the letter in question was actually about the “Thenzawl Peace City” project — a separate initiative aimed at urban development.

According to the state government, the Centre had sanctioned ₹10 crore for the preparation of a master plan under this project, which aims to develop Thenzawl — a census town 93 km from Aizawl — into a planned settlement capable of housing nearly 10 lakh people.

Chief Minister Lalduhoma had earlier announced on April 4 that the state plans to develop Thenzawl and its surrounding areas into a “peace city,” emphasizing it was not a replacement for Aizawl as the capital. He added that discussions had already taken place with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the 16th Finance Commission to secure funding for the ambitious project.