PTI, AIZAWL: Amid growing demand for the ouster of Mizoram Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) S B Shashank, Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla Monday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking immediate removal of the CEO as “people have lost faith in him”.
Shashank Monday said he had “no intention to hurt the sentiments” of the state’s civil societies and apologised for rankling them in any way.
The NGO Coordination Committee, an umbrella body of major civil societies and student organisations, had sought Shashank’s exit from the state, shortly after the Election Commission (EC) removed the state’s principal secretary (Home) Lalnunmawia Chuaungo. A section of the media said Shashank had complained to the EC that Chuaungo was interfering in the poll process.
“As people have lost faith in him, the only solution for the smooth conduct of Assembly elections 2018 now would be removal of CEO S B Shashank from office forthwith,” the chief minister wrote in his letter to the prime minister. A copy of the letter is available with PTI.
Elections to the 40-member Mizoram Assembly are scheduled for November 28.
Coordination Committee, which had on Friday demanded that Shashank leave Mizoram by dusk Monday, has decided to picket before the CEO’s office from Tuesday and not allow him to attend office.
The decision was made after the NGO officials attended a meeting convened by the state government and chaired by Chief Secretary Arvind Ray.
Additional security personnel have been deployed at the office and residence of Shashank in view of the threats.
Earlier on Monday, the CEO told a press meet here that he was just fulfilling his responsibilities in accordance with the instructions of the EC.
“As the state chief electoral officer, it is my responsibility that I fulfil the mandate of the EC. I can only hope that the civil societies will understand my position. I am sorry if I have hurt anybody,” he said.
