The Congress stormed back to power after a decade in Mizoram, winning 32 seats in the 40-member state legislature Monday.

The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) faced a humiliating defeat, managing to win only three seats. The party president and two-time Chief Minister Zoramthanga lost the poll in both the constituencies where he contested.

Reacting to the defeat, Zoramthanga, who had resigned, said the anti-incumbency factor had played a key role in his party's rout.

"What else can you expect with a party which has ruled the state for the last decade..... It is anti-incumbency," he said soon after he submitted his resignation to Governor Lt. General M M Lakhera.

Veteran Congress leader Lalthanhawla is set to become the chief minister of a Congress government in the state for the fourth time. "This is a verdict for change and a big snub to the 10-year-old misrule and corruption of the MNF government," 66-year-old Lalthanhawla said. The MNF was in power in Mizoram for the last two terms.

In the last assembly elections held in 2003, the ruling MNF secured 21 seats while Congress bagged 12 and seven went to other smaller parties.