Poll Watch-dog asks Pol parties not to set up campaign offices
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN

Aizawl, October 15 2013: Mizoram election watch-dog Mizoram People Forum (MPF) has asked all the political parties not to set up any 'campaign office' in connection with the upcoming assembly election in the state.

The Mizoram Peoples' Forum (MPF) is floated by the Synod, the largest Church body in Mizoram as an election watch-dog.

On Tuesday, in a drive to have free and fair election, MPF said since the opening up of election campaign offices by candidates resulted only in the huge expenses of the latter, it asked every party not to set up any campaign office for the upcoming election.

However, door to door campaign is allowed till 10 days before the election.

MPF also informed all the political parties in the state to take step in accordance with ECI Model Code of Conduct.

It however opposes any agitation by any group or community to achieve its demand which can disturb the preparation of assembly election.

It can be noted here that MPF has formulated its agenda to be applied in the next assembly election due in the next few months' time.

Earlier, MPF in its meeting held here had invited the various recognised political parties in Mizoram and had discussed over the setting up of party campaign offices in the wake of elections and about the participations of the candidates in the MPF joint platform.

Two months ago, the Mizoram Peoples' Forum (MPF), had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with major political parties in Mizoram so that free and fair elections could be held.

The memorandum of understanding is nothing but rule for co-operation by the political parties with the Mizoram People's Forum.

The parties which had signed the MoU with the state election watchdog are Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), Mizo Peoples Convention (MPC), Zoram National Party (ZNP), Mizo National Front (MNF) and the BJP for co-operation at Synod Committee Hall in Aizawl.

About 27 rules have been made by the MPF for the political parties to abide.

Among the 27 points, one is that the political parties should only make an election manifesto which they can implement.

If any political party violates any one of the 27 points, the MPF will "invalid" that party.

Meanwhile, Mizoram corruption watchdog the People's Right to Information and Development Implementing Society of Mizoram (PRISM) has started its spade-work as to what extent the present Congress government has implemented regarding the Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC)'s election manifesto of 2008.The PRISM said it will put its findings in public domain.

Like in the previous 2008 assembly elections, the PRISM in its executive meeting recently had declared that as soon as the date and time of 2013 state assembly elections is declared, it will have temporal halt on its 'Anti Corruption' campaign but will start an exclusive study of the background of different candidates in different respects and exposed the same before the public.

In case of any faulty or wrong information in the nomination paper (self declared affidavit) filed for the assembly election, PRISIM decided to take stern measure against the illicit candidate to bring right judgment over the case.

PRISIM further requested any interested person to report himself/herself to PRISIM office if he/she wishes to talk about the status of implementation of election manifesto by the present government.

Earlier on September 1, PRISM had issued 'Peoples' Manifesto' to eight different political parties in Mizoram for the upcoming Mizoram assembly elections due in either October end or November.

The manifesto contains 20 chapters in which there are 87 duties and obligations where any political party that comes to power after the poll must implement them.

Of the 87 duties, 43 are to be done within a specific time, while the other 44 duties do not have a time limit.

Earlier, 'Peoples' Manifesto' had been submitted to different parties including Bharatya Janata Party (BJP), Hmar People's Convention (HPC), Maraland Democratic Front (MDF), Mizo National Front (MNF), Mizoram Peoples Conference (MPC), Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), Mizoram Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) to use as their manifesto in the upcoming election.

The same copy was given to 20 organizations including AMFU general headquarters, Aizawl; Chhim Bial Chhantu, Lunglei; Central Young Mizo Association (CYMA), Aizawl;FOMTU Gen.

Hqrs., Aizawl; LDDVF, Lawngtlai; MHIP Gen.

Hqrs., Aizawl; MJA General Headquarters.,Aizawl; MKHC, Aizawl; MPF Hqrs., Aizawl; MSEWC, Aizawl; MSU Gen.

Hqrs., Aizawl; and MUP.

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