Aizawl: The Mizoram opposition Congress on Wednesday accused the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) government, headed by Chief Minister Lalduhoma, of manipulating the State Election Commission (SEC) to delay municipal polls.
The allegation came days after the SEC announced that it may conduct elections to the 19-member Aizawl Municipal Corporation (AMC) likely in April or May, even as the current term of the municipal body expires on March 1.
State Election Commissioner H. Lalthlangliana had recently said that the elections had to be delayed due to time constraints, the upcoming budget session, school board exams, and the closing of the current financial year.
He also stated that the decision to defer the polls was taken independently and that the state government was not involved.
Speaking to reporters, Congress spokesperson Lallianchhunga said that the claim that the government was not involved in delaying the AMC polls could not be accepted, as elections are never conducted without consulting the government.
He added that the election commission is required to seek the government’s opinion on matters such as law and order, election expenses, election duty, and appointment of polling officials.
“The ZPM government is influencing the SEC to find an opportunity in its favor, as the ruling party lacks the courage to face elections at this moment after suffering humiliating defeats in recent polls,” Lallianchhunga said at a news conference.
He alleged that the ZPM government forced the SEC to delay the AMC polls under weak excuses to avoid another defeat, following its losses in the Dampa assembly by-election and Lai Autonomous District Council (LADC) polls.
Lallianchhunga claimed that the SEC has fully completed poll preparations to conduct the AMC elections before the end of the current term.
He added that the poll panel had finalized certain wards reserved for women in May last year and published the final voter list on January 7.
Lalthlangliana had earlier stated that there would be a shortage of manpower for the elections, as all officials and teachers involved would be occupied with office work due to the budget session, board exams, and closure of the financial year.
The budget session of the state assembly is scheduled to begin on February 7, while board examinations for Class X and XII will be held from February to March.
Lallianchhunga, however, dismissed the budget session and financial year arguments, noting that most officials are not involved in budget preparation or financial matters.
He said that departments typically submit their budget proposals to the state finance department by this time, and only cashiers and billing staff handle financial tasks at the close of a financial year.
He added that there are sufficient teachers available who could be assigned for election duty. “If the government is genuinely concerned about students and board exams, why does it plan to celebrate Chapchar Kut festival at the same time as the board examinations?” he questioned.
Lallianchhunga further said that arrangements could be made to ensure that elections do not coincide with the budget session.
Former Congress legislator T.T. Zothansanga, who accompanied Lallianchhunga at the press conference, alleged that the ZPM government delayed the elections to find an opportunity to win voters by repairing internal roads in the state capital, scheduled for completion by April 15, and by procuring ginger and other crops starting February.