Mizoram Stir Called Off For Now, Chief Electoral Officer Called To Delhi

The protests in Mizoram demanding the removal of chief electoral officer SB Shashank have been called off for now, as the official has left for Delhi after being summoned by the election commission. The NGOs leading the protest say that they will decide their future course of action depending on what happens next.

Earlier today, Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, who is contesting from two seats, could not file his nomination papers in Serchhip as agitators continued their picketing in front of the office of the returning officer.

Vanlalruata, president of the Central Youth Mizo Association, said that the protestors have two demands, "The CEO should be replaced and the Bru (community) should cast their votes in Mizoram only". CYMA is the most powerful civil society group spearheading the protests.

On Tuesday evening, a three-member team from the election commission met activists who were leading the protests and government officials to find a way out of the deadlock.

"I am very happy to say that we have developed a lot of mutual understanding. We appreciated each other's viewpoint. We are making a report. We will give it to the commission and they will take a decision," Nikhil Kumar, director at the election commission, said after the meeting. 

The election commission today wrote to the Mizoram government asking it to take all possible measures for peaceful polls in the state. In the letter, the election commission also states that it has decided to replace principal secretary (home) Chuaungo "after observing sequence of past two months and his role, in great detail".

There is anger among a section of locals against what they claim are attempts by the administration to enroll Bru voters without proper procedures.

For instance, police said that on Tuesday, angry locals gathered in large numbers in front of the deputy district commissioner's office in Kolasib near Mizoram's border with Assam protesting against the alleged intention of the district administration to enroll 500-700 Brus who are in relief camps in Tripura.  

No violence was reported as deputy commissioner Arun T assured local leaders that the claims of Bru voters from Tripura would not be entertained without a hearing.

Rallies were also taken out in all the other seven district headquarters and large towns while protestors carried out a total shutdown in Mamit town on the Mizoram-Tripura-Bangladesh border.

Elections to the 40-member Mizoram assembly are scheduled to be held on November 28 and the counting of votes on December 11.

(With inputs from PTI)