Newmai News Network Aizawl | April 11 The Aizawl bench of Gauhati High Court on Wednesday issued a stay order on the election to Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) in Fultuli constituency, following an appeal by opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) after its candidate was disqualified by returning officer of the council polls for a reason, they said, was unspecific. The elections to the 24-member CADC will be held on April 20. The high court decision came following a writ petition filed by MNF candidate from Fultuli constituency, Sumir Tongchongya, over his disqualification after scrutiny on April 5. Tongchongya was disqualified by Lawngtlai District Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer of the CADC polls N Chakhai on the ground that he was a muster roll employee and that his election agent did not provide necessary documents. Following this, the returning officer declared Congress candidate Kali Kumar Tongchogya as elected unopposed and issued certificate of election to him. Speaking to reporters at a press conference here on Wednesday, MNF senior vice president Tawnluia said that there was no specific reason behind the disqualification of the MNF candidate. He alleged that it was a deliberate attempt on the part of the Congress to illegally grab power in the CADC. “We filed the complaint to the Aizawl bench of the Guahati High Court and the court after observing the gravity of the situation instantly issued the stay order and put on hold election in the Fultuli constituency. We hope there will be a free and fair election in the constituency,” he said. The MNF leader also expressed hope that the party will come to power in the upcoming CADC polls. Tawnluia further said that leaders of MNF on Wednesday met Governor Lt. Gen. Nirbhay Sharma (Rtd) over the Rs. 1020.60 lakh fund allocated to the CADC, 60 per cent of which allegedly went missing. He said that the Governor was implored to initiate probe by the Account General into the missing fund within three days. He said that the State government allocated the fund to the CADC just before it was suspended and put under Governor’s Rule on March 22 and of this 60 per cent (Rs 612.36 lakh) has been missing without any trace of expenditure. Meanwhile, MNF president Zoramthanga on Wednesday released the party manifesto at Chawngte in south Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district. Speaking on the occasion, the former rebel leader expressed hope that the MNF will come to power in the CADC polls. He also accused the ruling Congress of deliberately attempting to disturb MNF by disqualifying its candidate from Fultuli constituency.
