EC asks Mizoram to send two more names for post of state CEO

Press Trust of India  |  New Delhi 

The Monday sought two more names from the government for the post of chief electoral officer, highly-placed sources in the poll panel said.

The poll panel had asked the to suggest names after it decided to find an alternative to S B Shashank, who had courted controversy in the poll-bound state.

The poll panel decided to seek two more names at a meeting held here, the sources said.

The names already suggested by the government are -- Lalhmingthanga, H Lalengmawia and K Lalthawmmawia.

An in Aizawl had on Sunday said that Sudeep Jain, who led the second team to Mizoram Friday, had told officials there that it would take two-three days to select and appoint a new

Jain had also assured the leaders -- who were spearheading the movement against -- that the would be replaced and the Bru voters in relief camps would exercise their franchise from Mizoram, which were the primary demands of the organisation.

The had initiated the process of finding an alternative to the Saturday.

An spokesperson had said in New that the poll panel had "only decided to call for a panel of names for the post of the from the of Mizoram".

had reportedly sought deployment of additional central armed police forces (CAPFs) in the north-eastern state and complained to the EC that the state's former principal secretary, Lalnunmawia Chuaungo, was interfering in the poll process.

Chuaungo, a native of Mizoram and a Gujarat-cadre IAS officer, was relieved of his duties earlier this month.

Thousands of people took to the streets and picketed in front of Shashank's office for two days since Tuesday.

The protesters, under the aegis of the NGO Coordination Committee, had also given an ultimatum for to leave urgently, prompting the EC to send the first team to the state Tuesday.

Shashank left Mizoram Wednesday after being summoned by the in Delhi, which resulted in the withdrawal of the agitation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Mon, November 12 2018. 20:10 IST