Transferred bureaucrat now back in post

AIZAWL : Mizoram government official Lalnunmawia Chuaungo was back on Friday in his earlier position of principal secretary, home and finance departments, from where he had been transferred by the Election Commission (EC) before the state assembly polls.

A government notification on Friday said the allotment of the departments to Chuaungo was with immediate effect.

The EC on November 2 had directed the Mizoram government to remove Chuaungo on the charge of interfering with the poll process, especially on the issue of the Bru refugee’s voting rights.

He was then attached to the ministry of home affairs. The IAS officer has been working in Mizoram on inter- cadre deputation on loan from Gujarat since April this year.

Shortly after his transfer, an umbrella organisation of major civil societies and student bodies of the state demanded the removal of Mizoram Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) SB Shashank, claiming that he has lost the trust of the people.

The NGO Coordination Committee intensified its agitation and the EC removed Shashank on November 15, 13 days before the election was held on November 28. All major parties had supported the agitation and asked the officer be transferred.

SPEAKER APPOINTED

Mizoram governor Kummanam Rajasekharan on Friday appointed Lalrinawma as the pro-tem Speaker for the first session of the eighth state legislative assembly commencing Tuesday.

Lalrinawma was elected from Tuikum seat in central Mizoram’s Serchhip district on Mizo National Front (MNF) ticket. The two-time legislator would be sworn-in at the Durbar Hall of Raj Bhavan on Saturday.