Mizoram: Complaint against 16 ZPM MLAs for assembly ‘rule violations’ dismissed by Speaker
AIZAWL: The People's Conference (PC) party and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) filed a complaint with Mizoram assembly speaker Lalbiakzama against 16 legislators from the ruling Zoram People's Movement (ZPM), accusing them of violating House rules.
In their complaint, the PC and AAP claimed that the 16 ZPM MLAs had breached the “rules of procedure and conduct of business in the assembly” by holding “dual memberships in committees” within the House.
They argued that according to assembly regulations, no legislator should serve on more than one committee simultaneously.
People's Conference president Vanlalruata stated, “We have also submitted a similar complaint to the Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) and the Val Upa Council (VUC), an advisory body of the ruling party in the state, highlighting that these MLAs hold dual memberships, which is against the rules.”
Additionally, the PC and AAP alleged that four ZPM MLAs, who hold the rank of minister of state, are members of some assembly committees, which they claim further violates assembly regulations.
In response, Mizoram Speaker Lalbiakzama dismissed the allegations, clarifying that the 16 ZPM MLAs did not break any rules.
He explained, “Section 277 (2) of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Mizoram Legislative Assembly, which prohibits legislators from becoming members of more than one committee, has been deleted and is no longer valid.”
The Speaker also emphasized that the rules only prevent a minister from becoming a member of a subject committee under the state assembly.
“The four MLAs, who are advisers to the chief minister holding MoS rank, are not barred from becoming members of a subject committee as per the current rules,” the Mizoram Speaker added.