Poll panel removes Mizoram's Home Secretary, NGO bodies demand CEO's expulsion

Aizawl, Nov 3 The Election Commission has removed the Mizoram Principal Secretary (Home) from his post for "dereliction of duty and interference in election process", an official said on Saturday.

Soon after the order, an umbrella organisation of civil societies and student bodies of the state -- Mizoram's NGO Coordination Committee -- has demanded removal of Mizoram Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) S. B. Shashank, alleging he has lost the trust of the people.

"The Election Commission in an order on Friday has asked the Mizoram government to remove Lalnunmawia Chuaungo as the Principal Secretary (Home). If he continues to hold his post, it would have an adverse effect on conduct of smooth, free and fair election process in the state," a Mizoram Election Department official said, quoting the poll panel direction.

The official said the commission also asked the state government and the state election authorities not to assign Chuaungo any election-related works in Mizoram till the poll process is over.

The EC order came after reports appeared in the media that Chuaungo was "interfering with the election process and not follow