Mizo National Front (MNF) adviser and rural development minister Lalruatkima has said the MNF government led by chief minister Zoramthanga gives priority to the progress of Aizawl Municipal Corporation (AMC).

He claimed that the AMC was formed by the MNF government through legislations – The Mizoram Municipalities Act, 2007 and The Mizoram Municipalities (Election of Councillors) Rules, 2007.

The first AMC polls held in 2010 was swept by Congress and Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) combined by bagging 10 seats out of 19, while the MNF and Mizoram People’s Conference (MPC) combined managed to win 9 seats.

The Congress and ZNP combined had ruled the first AMC government for four and a half year while the MNF and MPC alliance was in power for six months during the 2010-2015.

In the next election held in 2015, the MNF won a clear majority by winning 11 seats while the Congress and its ally MPC managed to win 8 seats.

Also read: MNF will win ensuing Aizawl Municipal Corporation polls: Mizoram CM Zoramthanga

“Development remained sluggish during the four years Congress rule as no strong and firm government could be established, while the AMC was smooth under the MNF during 2015-2020 term,” Lalruatkima said.

The MNF leader claimed that within one year since MNF assumed power after the state assembly in 2018, it has created 98 new posts and passed The Mizoram Municipality Common Cadre Service Rules, 2019 and The Mizoram Municipality Subordinate Service Rules, 2019 by which the service conditions of AMC staff have been greatly upgraded.

Moreover, at least 48 employees have been regularized recently.

He alleged that Congress failed to do any remarkable work during its 10 years rule between 2008 and 2018.

Lalruatkima said that the state government is making massive efforts to relocate Assam Rifles headquarters.

‘When the MNF formed its first government in 1987 former chief minister Laldenga gave priority to shifting of Assam Rifles bases from the heart of Aizawl to Zokhawsang on the outskirts about 15 km from the city,” he said.

“The certificate to transfer Zokhawsang area to Assam Rifles was signed in 1988,” he said.

However, when Congress came back to power between 1989-1998, it did not take any initiative to shift Assam Rifles headquarters.

When the MNF came back to power in 1998, it issued a land lease to Assam Rifles for 99 years, but nothing was done during the Congress rule between 2008 and 2018.

The MNF revived the issue when it came back to power in 2018 and accordingly the Union home ministry directed Assam Rifles to shift battalion headquarters from Aizawl to Zokhawsang latest by May 2020.

However, the process could not be expedited due to the spread of Covid-19, he added.