CM joins chorus for poll officer’s removal
Mizoram chief minister Lal Thanhawla wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, calling for the removal of chief electoral officer SB Shashank.
“The people of Mizoram have lost faith in Shashank, who had reportedly complained to the Election Commission (EC) that principal secretary (home) Lalnunmawia Chuaungo was interfering in poll processes,” he wrote.
“As people have lost faith in him, the only solution for smooth conduct of assembly elections 2018 now would be his removal from office forthwith,” Lal Thanhawla added.
The demand was first raised last week by influential NGOs in the state who had given Shashank until Monday to leave the state. Mizoram goes to polls on November 28 to elect new members to the 40-member assembly.
The controversy began on October 29 when Shashank told the EC that Chuaungo, a 1987 batch Gujarat cadre officer, was interfering in electoral rolls of Bru refugees residing in Tripura – a politically sensitive issue in Mizoram, where many are opposed to granting the refugees voting rights. Last Friday, the EC ordered Chuaungo’s immediate transfer, triggering outrage.
On Monday, Shashank told journalists in Aizawl that he didn’t intend to hurt anyone’s sentiments.
“As the state CEO, it is my responsibility that we fulfill mandate of the EC. I never had the intention of hurting sentiment of local Mizos or the civil society. If their sentiment has been hurt, I am sorry,” UNI quoted him as saying. President of BJP’s Mizoram state unit, JV Hluna, also wrote to the PM on Monday supporting Chuaungo and seeking Shashank’s ouster.
“The Mizo people have expressed their common and united stand in calling for the removal of the inept CEO…I express my solidarity with my people and request that you do everything in your power to neutralize the situation,” he wrote.
At least 32,000 Brus had fled from three districts in Mizoram following ethnic clashes in 1997 and have been living in relief camps in Tripura. Several political parties and groups in Mizoram are opposed to a proposal to allow them to cast votes for the assembly polls in the relief camps.
From Tuesday, the NGOs have decided to start non-violent protests outside the CEO’s office. There is also an appeal to all to offer voluntary service to “save Mizo community”.