SEC Cracks The Whip On NECS

Aizawl, Jan 26 : The Mizoram state election commission has cracked the whip on North East Consultancy Services, preventing the latter from observing its foundation day on January 28 where Mizoram chief minister and others were scheduled to speak.

An official statement said today, as the NEC intended to go ahead with its scheduled programme despite the SEC's notification sent to the NEC chief managing director Robert Romawia Royte on the afternoon of January 24, the SEC ordered the Aizawl deputy commissioner to make sure that the function does not take place and instructed the director of art & culture department to ensure that Vanapa Hall remains lock from dawn to dusk on the scheduled date.

Any attempt to violate the election model code of conduct will be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law, the official statement said.


According to the statement, the NEC chief MD had sent an application to the SEC to allow the chief minister, Nagaland education minister, Mizoram education minister and MLA and former Mizoram education minister Dr R Lalthangliana to address the function as per schedule. However, the SEC rejected the request on grounds that there could be violations of the election model code of conduct.

However, since local newspapers carried the scheduled programme today indicating that the company intended to go ahead with its scheduled programme, the SEC issued the notification today itself. Reacting to the government official statement, NEC chief MD Royte denied any attempt to defy the SEC s order.

When I received the SEC s letter around 1800 hours on Wednesday, my publicity department had already sent the programme for publication to the newspapers which I did not realise until later. My company has no intention to defy the SEC s order.

Therefore, I have cancelled the observation function, Mr Royte said.