Lal Thanhawla, Chief Minister of Mizoram, has been summoned by a district court for allegedly filing a false affidavit prior to the 2013 Assembly elections.
Deputy controller of mines at Indian Bureau of Mines, Kolkata, Lalhriatrenga Chhangte, had accused the Chief Minister from the Congress party of concealing information about him owning a plot of land in Kolkata and his age while filing his nomination for the 2013 assembly elections. Following this, a criminal case under section 200 of the CrPC was lodged against the Chief Minister by the Chief Judicial Magistrate of the Serchhip district.
Chhangte has alleged that the Mizoram CM has a huge property in New Town, Kolkata, and he willfully concealed the information in his affidavit to the Election Commission of India (ECI). Chhangte had initially approached the ECI in November last year with the complaint. However, he was directed to file a complaint in the district court. Various opposition parties, including the Zoram National Party, have demanded the Chief Minister’s resignation over the matter.
Mizoram is slated to go into polls later this year with Assembly Elections to be held for its 40 constituencies. After suffering a string of losses in the North East since Narendra Modi came to power, accusations of lying against its Chief Minister does not bode well for the Congress party’s prospects in the state.