Mizoram’s civil society groups organise massive protest, want chief electoral officer removed
■ Poll officer had ordered removal of state home secretary
◗ Most schools, shops and offices were closed in Aizawl on Tuesday.
◗ The EC has decided to send a threemember delegation to take stock of the situation.
A day after Mizoram chief minister Lal Thanhawla’s letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention to remove the chief electoral officer, hundreds of Mizos on Tuesday came out demanding removal of the chief electoral officer who ordered the removal of the state home secretary Lalnunmawia Chuaungo, accusing him of interfering with the poll process.
The protesters came out following a call by Young Mizo Association and civil society groups. The Assembly elections in Mizoram are scheduled on November 28.
Most schools, shops and offices were closed in Aizawl on Tuesday. There was total shutdown in Mamit town as well, where scores of government employees were out on the streets. Protests also took place in at least five other district headquarters.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has decided to send a three- member delegation to take stock of the situation, after the unprecedented scenario,
where the civil society and the state poll panel are at loggerheads. The delegation has been asked to meet the civil society groups, which are backed by the church.
Problem started after chief electoral officer S. B. Sashank shot off a letter to the Election Commission, complaining of direct interference by state home secretary Lalnunmawia Chuaungo, in the revision of electoral rolls and asked the poll panel to remove him from his post.
Mr Sashank accused Mr Chuaungo, a 1987- batch Gujarat- cadre IAS officer, of objecting to facilitate voting for Mizoram’s Bru refugees living in Tripura, for the Assembly elections. The Bru refugees had fled Mizoram almost 22 years ago after ethnic clashes.
The Election Commission, following the report of the chief electoral officer, transferred Mr Chuaungo and barred him from office till the elections are over.
The influential YMA, which is backed by the church and opposing voting rights for Bru refugees, was not happy over the decision of the CEO to transfer Mr Chuaungo.