As preparations for state elections this year in Mizoram go into full swing under the State Chief Election Officer SB Shashank, an Orientation-cum-Interaction Programme of political parties for General Elections to Mizoram Legislative Assembly 2018 was successfully organised at the ATI Training Hall, Aizawl on Friday.
The interaction programme was chaired by Dy CEO H Lianzela and Addl CEO Lalzarmawii welcomed all the representatives of various political parties in the state. Inaugurating the programme, CEO SB Shashank said that it was the right time for interaction with the political parties and brief them thoroughly about the ECI guidelines for this year’s elections.
He said Mizoram is already well-known within and outside the country for its high standard of ethical voting and hoped that the legacy will be proudly continued in the coming state elections again. Among the various ECI guidelines to be followed, ‘Suvidha-Single Window Permission System’ has been newly introduced and will be used this year, in which any political party wishing to hold public meetings must first submit application through Suvidha.
Also, as in the previous elections, Media Certification & Monitoring Committee (MCMC) will be formed at both district and state levels. In addition, Appellate Authority will also be nominated where political parties/candidates may represent their pleas if their campaign videos/pictures/advertisements have been rejected by either the district or state MCMC.
The CEO also informed the party representatives that ECI has fixed Rs 20 lakh for each candidate for his/her election expenditure and nomination for the candidates will be allowed from 11am to 3 pm only at designated RO/ARO’s offices. He also reiterated that once the date of election has been announced, all news or reports pertaining to activities of sitting MLAs/Ministers must cease to be uploaded in the various state government department websites.
Mizoram State Elections will be monitored by general as well as expenditure observers, who will be camped at the state capital and districts till the whole polling process is concluded.