AIZAWL, Dec 5?A 13-member two-tier Mizo National Front Ministry, headed by Chief Minister Zoramthanga, was sworn in for a second consecutive term last evening after opposition protestors smashed the panes of his car and blocked all roads leading to Raj Bhavan, delaying the ceremony by seven hours, reports PTI.
Eight of the ministers were of cabinet rank, and but for a new entrant, the others had been part of the earlier ministry. The swearing ceremony, originally scheduled for 11:00 am, finally took place at 6:00 pm after the opposition which called a dawn-to-dusk bandh to protest the arrest of 20 persons Wednesday night, blockaded the streets demanding their release.
The trouble started Wednesday evening when a mob entered the hall at the counting centre here in the Deputy Commissioner?s office complex and smashed 12 electronic voting machines just as the votes for Suangpuilawn were to be counted on the orders of the Election Commission. The EC had earlier instructed the election authorities to take up counting for the seat Wednesday afternoon.
After receiving the fax from EC, the election department officials had replied that it could not be held as candidates and their agents had to be informed and the atmosphere in the state was still not conducive for counting the Suangpuilawn votes. The Election Commission, however, had put its foot down and instructed the election officials to take up the counting as directed.