Aizawl Municipal Corporation Elections Delayed Until April or May

Election Timeline for Aizawl Municipal Corporation

Aizawl, Jan 17: The elections for the Aizawl Municipal Corporation (AMC) are anticipated to take place in April or May, following the conclusion of the current term, primarily due to various administrative and logistical challenges.

During a press briefing, Mizoram State Election Commissioner H Lalthlangliana stated that holding the AMC elections before the current term ends on March 1 is impractical. He noted that this period coincides with the end of the financial year, when many government employees are preoccupied with official duties, complicating the deployment of personnel for election responsibilities.

Additionally, Lalthlangliana highlighted that the upcoming Budget Session of the Mizoram Legislative Assembly, set for February, presents another significant obstacle to conducting the municipal elections in the remaining timeframe. The Assembly session demands considerable administrative organization and personnel allocation, further limiting the election timeline.

Another major issue is the lack of available electronic voting machines (EVMs). The EVMs utilized in the Lai Autonomous District Council (LADC) elections on December 3 are still sealed and stored securely. According to election regulations, these machines cannot be utilized for other elections until at least 60 days post-polling, as there is a designated period for filing complaints or petitions with the Election Commission. This effectively prevents their immediate use for the AMC elections.

Lalthlangliana also mentioned that extending the term of the municipal body is not unprecedented. The previous AMC's term was extended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting that a similar extension in this case would align with historical practices under unavoidable circumstances.

The postponement occurs as political activities surrounding the AMC elections are already intensifying. Various political parties had anticipated that the elections would occur shortly after the current term's conclusion, with some parties already announcing candidates for several wards. The ruling Zoram People’s Movement is among those that have revealed candidate names, while other hopefuls have commenced low-key campaigning in expectation of an early election.

By

Correspondent