EC says no to Mizoram BJP's plea to extend nomination date

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission has turned down a request from BJP's Mizoram unit for extension of ultimate day of nomination within the poll-bound state within the wake of protests by means of native civil society groups in opposition to leader electoral officer SB Shashank.

The unrest followed EC's determination to transfer out Mizoram important home secretary Lalnunmawia Chuaungo based on CEO's inputs that the IAS officer, a Mizo but from Gujarat cadre, was once allegedly interfering with the electoral procedure. However, Thursday noticed a restoration of calm within the state.

EC has now written again to BJP state president JV Hluna, mentioning the birthday party's request "for extension of last date for filing of nomination has not been acceded to on account of peace and normalcy in the state today". Polling in Mizoram is to be held in a single section on November 28.

Commission sources told TOI that rules as well as past courtroom rulings didn't permit for prolonging the nomination procedure past the mandated seven days. "Once the nomination process opens, filing of nominations must be completed within a week. The last date cannot be extended and the only alternative is to issue a fresh notification for nomination process," stated an EC reputable.