AIZAWL, April 30 - Mizoram State Election Commissioner L Tochhawng held a special meeting in connection with the ensuing Village Council (VC) by-elections in some parts of Aizawl and Kolasib districts of the State scheduled for May 19 next.
Besides Secretary, State Election Commission H Darzika, Aizawl and Kolasib DCs, SPs and political party representatives attended the recent meeting which was held at the office of the State Election Commissioner.
Tochhawng said that when on April 30 last year VC general election was held in other parts of the State, election could not be held in 25 villages in Aizawl district and in six villages in Kolasib district due to some problem.
Now, the government has informed the State Election Commission that a peaceful atmosphere conducive to conduct of election prevails. Accordingly, SEC is preparing to conduct the election on May 19 next, Tochhawng said.
The State Election Commissioner said that as per rule, Electoral Roll had to be revised since one year has elapsed after the VC general election 2015 and therefore using January 1, 2016 as qualifying date, the latest electoral roll was used as draft roll and the same published on March 21, 2016 and final roll made ready by April 8, 2016.
She highlighted that, of the 99 seats in 25 VCs of Aizawl district, 72 are general seats and 27 reserved seats while in Kolasib district, of the total 26 seats in six VCs, 20 are general and six are reserved.
Model Code of Conduct has come into effect in the constituencies where election is to be held, not in the entire districts, Tochhawng mentioned.
This time, in the VC polls, ballot paper shall be used. Vote counting will immediately begin after the polling ends i.e., on May 19.