Aizwal, November 15: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has appointed Ashish Kundra as Mizoram Chief Election Officer (CEO) ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. Kundra is a 1996 batch IAS officer and also served as the Commissioner GAD, Higher and Technical Education in Mizoram. The ECI on November 10 initiated the process of finding an alternative to Mizoram chief electoral officer S B Shashank. There was a massive protest in the state by a conglomerate of civil society and student organisations for removing Shashank.

Earlier this month, a meeting was also held in which the poll panel decided to call for names for the post of State CEO from chief secretary of Mizoram. The controversy started when the state chief electoral officer had reportedly sought deployment of additional central armed police forces (CAPF) in the state and also complained to the EC that the state's former principal secretary Lalnunmawia Chuaungo was interfering with the poll process. On the complained of Shashank, Chuaungo was relieved of his duties earlier this month. Mizoram Assembly Elections 2018: Election Commission to Hold Talks With Government Officials, Leaders

Mizoram will undergo assembly elections on November 28 along with Madhya Pradesh. Results of the elections will be declared on December 11. Mizoram's incumbent Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla will contest from Champhai South seat, and Assembly Speaker Hiphei will fight from Palak seat. Mizoram is the only state in the entire North-East where the Congress is in power presently.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 15, 2018 12:41 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).