AIZAWL, Feb 3: Two Mizoram ministers have been served show-cause notices by the State Election Commission (SEC) for alleged violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) ahead of the upcoming village council and local council elections. The notices were issued to Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Vanlalhlana and Sports Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar following complaints from the opposition party, Mizo National Front (MNF).
State Election Commissioner H Lalthlangliana confirmed that the ministers were asked to provide their explanations by Monday, February 5. The action follows allegations made by the MNF that the two ministers had breached the MCC during the election period.
According to the MNF, a video surfaced on social media in which Minister Vanlalhlana was seen virtually campaigning for candidates from the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) party in the Durtlang local council area. The opposition party claimed that the minister was campaigning from his official office, which contravenes the MCC.
Similarly, the MNF alleged that Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar violated the MCC on January 27 when he met with ZPM candidates in his constituency. During the meeting, Hmar reportedly announced development plans and upcoming projects, which the opposition claimed was an attempt to influence voters. The MNF cited media reports in which Hmar stated that the state government had allocated over Rs 45 crore for development projects in the Aizawl West-II constituency, including Rs 25.35 crore for a market construction in Vaivakawn. Hmar also reportedly discussed the construction of a new inter-locality road between Dinthar and Tuikual South, which he said would be named “Aizawl West Outlet.”
As of Sunday, February 2, the SEC had not received any additional complaints regarding MCC violations, according to the election commissioner.
The local elections for the village councils and local councils are scheduled for February 12, 2025. A total of 6,829 candidates are in the race for 544 village council seats across nine districts, excluding the three autonomous district council areas of Lawngtlai and Siaha. Additionally, 2,076 candidates are competing for 111 seats in local councils within the Aizawl Municipal Corporation (AMC) and Lunglei Municipal Council (LMC).
Out of the 6,942 candidates who filed nominations for the village council elections, 11 candidates had their nominations rejected, and 102 withdrew their candidacies by the deadline on January 27. For the local council polls, 2,084 candidates filed nominations, with two nominations rejected and six withdrawals.
Voting will take place on February 12, with the counting of votes scheduled to begin at 7 pm on the same day, or as soon as polling ends.
The 544 village councils have a total of 2,416 seats, 613 of which are reserved for women. The 111 local councils within AMC and LMC have 723 seats, with 195 reserved for women. The total number of eligible voters is 4,37,708, including 2,22,098 female electors for the village council polls, and 2,44,726 voters for the local council elections within AMC and 41,206 voters in LMC.
