EVMs blamed for MNF loss in 2009 Mizoram polls

Former Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga on Tuesday blamed the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) for his party’s defeat in the 2009 assembly polls.

Former Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga on Tuesday blamed the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) for his party’s defeat in the 2009 assembly polls.

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The Lal Thanhawla-led Congress had routed Zoramthanga’s Mizo National Front (MNF) in 2009, winning 32 seats in the 40-member House. The MNF bagged only three seats after two successive stints in power.

Zoramthanga, a former militant leader, said experts have proved that EVMs were erroneous. “The government had ordered only two companies – BEL and ECIL – to make the EVMs, and there might have been some trick or a reason behind ordering from these companies,” he said.

The former chief minister said that the newly-formed North East Regional Party Forum would be pressing for a ban on EVMs in the future. The forum, forged last week, has the Asom Gana Parishad, Nagaland People’s Front and Manipur People’s Party besides MNF as its members