After outrage, SB Shashank removed as Mizoram-CEO by Election Commission
On Thursday, the Election Commission removed Mizoram CEO SB Shashank from his position after massive outrage in the state. He will be succeeded by Ashish Kundra, a statement of the top polling agency revealed. Civil society members have been protesting in Aizawl and other places for days now, seeking Shashank's removal. Notably, the state goes to polls on November 28.
People of Mizoram wanted Shashank to be removed
The outrage began after Shashank wrote a letter to Election Commission alleging massive interference by the state government in the upcoming elections. Acting on his letter, the EC removed Principal Secretary (Home) Lalnunmawia Chuaungo, a 1987-batch Gujarat-cadre IAS officer. After Chuaungo was removed from his position, people in Mizoram demanded Shashank's ouster. They took to streets against him and demanded EC to act.
Understanding the issues eclipsing Mizoram elections
The issues, which Shashank mentioned in his letter, pertained to voting in the state. One of the issues was deployment of central forces in the state. Another issue is related to voting rights of Reang (Bru) tribals. The tribals, who stay in Tripura camps, want to vote from there itself, but the state government wants them to travel to Mizoram and cast their votes.
At center of controversy is Bru Tribals and their replacement
The Bru Tribals have been living in six Tripura camps, after fleeing Mizoram due to 'ethnic cleansing' in 1990s. In July, the Home Ministry announced that the states and Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Forum have signed a repatriation agreement. Meanwhile, Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla wrote to Home Minister Rajnath Singh that some with 'vested interests' are stopping tribals in camps from repatriating.
Chuaungo's letters upset the Election Commission
Amid the enrollment of tribals which has raised concerns, Chuaungo wrote to District Election Officers of Mamit, Lunglei, and Kolasib. He directed them that identification slips issued to migrants will be used solely for 'purpose of Repatriation and Rehabilitation of the Reang (Bru) migrants'. He marked the CEO in the letter and EC felt the state was not keen to have voters enrolled.
Thousands protested against Shashank, he appealed to civil society
Next Chuaungo wrote a letter to Shashank in October asking why the state home department was not consulted in the matter of forces deployed in the state. The EC thought it as an interference. Soon thousands took to streets to protest against Shashank, while he maintained that he didn't do anything illegal. He appealed to the civil society to let him do his job.
Even CM Thanhawla batted for Shashank's removal
"With the complete loss of confidence in him by the people, the only solution for smooth conduct of Assembly elections 2018 now would be the removal of Shri S B Shashank, CEO from his office forthwith," CM Thanhawla wrote in a letter to PM Modi.
