AIZAWL:
Mizoram governor has averted direct confrontation with the popularly elected government headed by chief minister Zoramthanga and the Raj Bhavan in Aizawl by acceding to the opinion of the council of ministers, and decided not to impose the Governor’s Rule in the Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) for the time being, sources in the Raj Bhavan said, on June 6.
The sources said that Hari Babu Kambhampati sent back the file to the state government through the District Council and Minority Affairs department on June 3.
“He (governor), wrote in the file that he would agree, for the time being, with the unanimous expressed opinion of the council of ministers, which met on June 1, saying that imposition of Governor’s Rule in the CADC was not necessary and would amount to violation of the principles of democracy,” an official of the Raj Bhavan said.
Earlier, District Council and Minority Affairs Minister Lalzirliana had said that the meeting of the council of ministers, chaired by Zoramthanga on Wednesday, deliberated on the issue of imposition of Governor’s Rule in CADC and expressed the wish that the Governor’s Rule was uncalled for.
“In view of the present problem, which is only within the MNF party, imposition of Governor’s Rule at this juncture, without exploring other options, would be against the principles of democracy,” Lalzirliana had maintained.
There had been controversies and court cases on whether the state governor, who has special and discretionary power over the autonomous district councils, can dissolve the government in the councils without the consent of the ministry enjoying the mandate of the people, or not.
Instability in the CADC government had begun a few months after the elections to the 20-member CADC held in April, 2018 saw a hung council and the BJP, which won 5 seats decided to form the government with arch rival Congress party (at the centre) which bagged 7 seats, rather than its NDA ally the MNF having 8 MDCs.
Four governments in the CADC had been toppled since Shanti Jiban Chakma of the BJP was sworn-in as Chief Executive Member (CEM) on May 4, 2018 after being elected leader of the United Legislature Party (ULP), formed by the BJP and the Congress.
The last CEM Rashik Mohan Chakma, made his second stint in October last year, but was voted out of power in a no confidence motion on May 9, though all the 20 MDCs are the MNF members.
CADC chairman Buddhalila Chakma already staked his claim to form the next government in the CADC, but the governor, maintaining that there would be no stability in the council, recommended governor’s rule.