Lalrinawma appointed Pro-tem Speaker of Mizoram Assembly

Aizawl, Dec. 14 (PTI): Mizoram Governor Kummanam Rajasekharan on Friday appointed Lalrinawma as the Pro-tem Speaker for the first session of the eighth state legislative Assembly commencing Tuesday, a notification said.

Lalrinawma was elected from Tuikum seat in central Mizoram’s Serchhip district on Mizo National Front (MNF) ticket. The two-time legislator would be sworn-in at the Durbar Hall of Raj Bhavan on Saturday at 2.30 pm.

He would exercise the powers of the Speaker during the session until Assembly speaker is elected, the notification said.

Lalrinawma would administer the oath of office to the 38 newly elected legislators (one person was elected in two seats) on Tuesday, Assembly secretariat sources said, adding that the speaker would also be elected on the first day of the session.

Rahasekharan would deliver his customary Gubernatorial address in the Assembly on Wednesday which would be the sole business of that day.

The third and concluding day of the session would begin with obituary references by leader of the House Zoramthanga and the discussion on the motion of thanks on the governor’s address would be held after which the session would be adjourned sine die, the sources added.

Mizoram official transferred by EC back in earlier position

Mizoram government official Lalnunmawia Chuaungo is back in his earlier position – Principal Secretary, Home and Finance departments – from where he had been transferred by the Election Commission (EC) before the state assembly polls.

A government notification on Friday said the allotment of the departments to Chuaungo was with immediate effect.

The EC on November 2 had directed the Mizoram government to remove Chuaungo on the charge of interfering with the poll process. He was then attached to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The IAS officer has been working in Mizoram on inter- cadre deputation on loan from Gujarat since April this year.

Shortly after his transfer, an umbrella organisation of major civil societies and student bodies of the state demanded the removal of Mizoram Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) S B Shashank, claiming that he has lost the trust of the people.

The NGO Coordination Committee intensified its agitation and the EC removed Shashank on November 15, 13 days before the election was held on November 28.