A 13-member two-tier Mizo National Front ministry, headed by Chief Minister Zoramthanga, was sworn in for a second consecutive term on Thursday evening.

Eight of the ministers were of Cabinet rank and, but for a new entrant, the others had been part of the earlier ministry.

The ceremony, scheduled for 1100 IST, was delayed by seven hours after the opposition, which called a dawn-to-dusk bandh to protest against the arrest of 20 people on Wednesday night, blockaded the streets demanding their release.

In fact, they even smashed the panes of Zoramthanga's car and blocked all roads leading to Raj Bhavan, where the ceremony was to have been held.