Stalemate in Mizoram, Assembly polls uncertain

October 6: Assembly election in Mizoram has become uncertain with the state government in Mizoram and various Mizo organizations taking on to the streets against S.B. Shashank, the Chief Electoral Officer of the state. Protests broke out in several districts of Mizoram including Kolasib. Even the state capital of Aizawl was teeming with protesters holding placards and shouting slogans against SB Shashank. Protest demonstrations were led by Young Mizo Association.

The bone of contention is the voting rights of the Bru refugees who fled ethnic violence in Mizoram and settled in camps in neighbouring Tripura. The number of such Bru refugees will be several thousand. As per data provided by Young Mizo Association, around 35,000 Bru refugees from Mizoram were estimated to be living in Tripura’s camps at present. Chief Electoral Officer S.B. Shashank argued that the Bru refugees would be eligible to vote even from refugee camps in Tripura and did not have to return to their original homes in Mizoram. Further, the Mizos also were against the deployment of central forces for elections in Mizoram.

The genesis of this conflict between the two communities started in 1990s when some Mizo organizations demanded that the names of Bru should be struck off from the voter list. This led to militant movement among the Bru in demand of greater autonomy, which resulted in clashes with the Mizos. Since then thousands of Bru took shelter in camps in bordering Tripura.

Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla wrote to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday urging upon him to transfer Shashank out of the state. Even the Mizoram Journalists Association abstained from attending a press conference convened by S.B. Shashank. Protestors also prohibited the vehicles carrying paramilitary forces from Silchar to Aizawl. The Federation of Mizoram Government Employee and Workers also threatened not to cooperate with the Election Commission unless and until Shashank was transferred out of Mizoram by 9 October. In this regard, the state government employees have submitted a memorandum to O.P Rawat, Chief Election Commissioner.

As such, a stalemate has occurred in Mizoram. Concerned people have expressed the view that if this standoff is not solved at the earliest, then Assembly polls will be uncertain in the state.