New Mizoram Chief Electoral Officer appointed

Guwahati, November 15, 2018:

The Election Commission of India has appointed Ashish Kundra as the new Chief Electoral Officer of Mizoram.

Kundra replaced SB Shashank, who had encouraged controversy in the poll-bound state.

Kundra was earlier posted as the Commissioner (General Administration Department), Higher and Technical Education in Mizoram.

Reportedly, Shashank 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.

Thousands of people took to the streets and protested against Shashank since Tuesday and submitted an ultimatum for Shashank to leave urgently, prompting the EC to send the first team to the state under the aegis of the NGO Coordination Committee.

The agitation was withdrawn after Shashank left Mizoram after being summoned by the chief election commissioner in Delhi.