Mizoram parties asked not to use insurgents in poll process

A Church sponsored election watchdog in Mizoram on Friday appealed to all political parties not to use insurgents in the poll process as per the agreement reached between the two sides.

The Mizoram People's Forum (MPF), a conglomerate of major churches and civil societies for political and electoral reforms, asked the parties to adhere to the agreement reached between the MPF and political parties.

The Mizoram People's Forum (MPF), a conglomerate of major churches and civil societies for political and electoral reforms, has signed the agreement in September.

According to the agreement, political parties cannot use insurgents during campaigning or the hustings, MPF official Rev B Sangthanga told mediapersons.

The MPF also prohibited organising community feasts for campaigning and use of minors in the canvassing.

No church or association can force a candidate to make promises to benefit any organisation or individual in exchange of its support, said Sangthanga, who is also executive secretary of the Presbyterian Church's Mizoram Synod.

Though the MPF did not have power to control any party, the one that violates it would be exposed, he said.

Political parties have agreed to curtail a number of poll campaign strategies, and the guidelines laid down are deemed to be more stringent than the model code of conduct of the Election Commission, MPF sources said.

The MPF had also issued such guidelines before the 2013 assembly election too.