As preparations for state elections this year in Mizoram go into full swing under the State Chief Election Officer Shri SB Shashank, an Orientation-cum-Interaction Programme of Political Parties for General Elections to Mizoram Legislative Assembly 2018 was succesfully organised at the ATI Training Hall, Aizawl today.

The interaction programme was chaired by Dy. CEO Shri H.Lianzela and Addl. CEO Smt. Lalzarmawii welcomed all the representatives of various political parties in the state. Inaugurating the programme, CEO Shri SB Shashank said that it was the right time for interaction with the political parties and brief them thoroughly about the ECI Guidelines for this year’s elections. He said that Mizoram is already well-known within and outside the country for its high standard of ethical voting and hoped that the legacy will be proudly continued in the coming state elections again. Among the various ECI Guidelines to be followed, ‘Suvidha-Single Window Permission System’ has been newly introduced and will be used this year, in which any political party wishing to hold public meetings must first submit application through Suvidha. Also, as in the previous elections, Media Certification & Monitoring Committee (MCMC) will be formed at both district and state levels, and in addition, this year Appellate Authority will also be nominated where political parties/candidates may represent their pleas if their campaign videos/pictures/advertisements have been rejected by either the distirct or state MCMC. The CEO also informed the party representatives that ECI has fixed Rs.20 lakhs for each candidate for his/her election expenditure, and nomination for the candidates will be allowed from 11:00am to 3:00PM ONLY at designated RO/ARO’s offices. He also reiterated that once the date of election has been announced, all news or reports pertaining to activities of sitting MLAs/Ministers must cease to be uploaded in the varios state government department websites. Mizoram State Elections will be monitored by General as well as Expenditure Observers, who will be camped at the state capital and districts till the whole polling process is concluded.

In today’s orientation, party representatives were briefed about various topics, as follows, by master trainers :

1). Candidate’s Nomination Process - Shri H.Lalhmingthanga, SLMT, Dy. Secretary, SAD/DP&AR

2). Election Expenditure Monitoring - Shri Vanlalrova, SLMT & Dy. Director, SYS

3). Suvidha-Single Window Permission System - Smt. H.Vanlalruatfeli, Programmer, Election 

Dept.

4). Media Certification & Monitoring Committee - Shri Vanlalrova, SLMT & Dy. Director, SYS

5). Model Code of Conduct - Shri Vanlalrova, SLMT & Dy. Director, SYS

ONGOING ELECTION PREPARATIONS AT DISTRICT LEVEL :

1. District Election Officer, Lawngtlai District yesterday organised training on use of EVM/VVPAT for school children and first-time voters. In the same function, prizes for given out to the winners of the election slogan & song contest. Election Officer Shri Lalrinawma conducted full presentation on how to correctly use EVM/VVPAT and Lawngtlai DIPRO encouraged the young students to take active role in the electoral process which is a vital feature of democracy. Mock poll was also conducted as part of the training programme.

2. In Serchhip District, a ‘One Day Course on Police Training on Mizoram Legislative Assembly Election’ was held at the S.P. Conference Hall yesterday. This was the second training session for police personnel in the district. Training was imparted in two sessions - the first session was conducted by Master Trainer Shri Nguthansanga, SDC, who spoke on ‘Systematic Voter’s Education & Electoral Participation’ (SVEEP), EVMs and VVPAT; while the second session was conducted by the District Chief Medical Officer, who explained about first aid and emergency response, if needed during election duty. Serchhip S.P. Shri R.Sathiyasundaram closed the tarining sessions with a vote of thanks.