The Central Election Commission (CEC), on Saturday, initiated the process of replacement of Mizoram Chief Electoral Officer S B Shashank who is facing a massive agitation for his ouster by NGOs, civil society and student organisations. Reportedly, the EC has called for a panel of names for CEO post from Chief Secretary of Mizoram. It may be mentioned that elections to the 40-member Assembly is scheduled on November 28 with approx. 211 nominations for the elections.

 

The trouble started on October 29 with CEO complaining to the EC about alleged interference in the revision of electoral rolls of Bru refugees by Mizoram’s Principal Secretary (Home) Lalnunmawia Chuaungo (IAS:1987:GJ). CEO’s proposal to let the refugees vote in their camps irked the local Mizo population and the EC ordered the transfer of Chuaungo outside the state which later triggering protests in the state.

 

The MNCC had given an ultimatum to Shashank on November 02 to leave the state by November 05. With the CEO failing to meet that deadline thousands of Mizos had demonstrated on the streets of Aizawl and other towns in the state on Tuesday and Wednesday. Political parties including the ruling Congress and the BJP also sided with the MNCC. CM Lal Thanhawla and state BJP chief JV Hluna wrote to PM Modi seeking his interference to remove Shashank.