Chief Minister Zoramthanga ''buys'' votes

Aizawl, Nov 21 (UNI) Champhai district Mizoram People's Forum (MPF) president Rev P B Mankima today accused Mizo National Front (MNF) supremo and Chief Minister Zoramthanga of allegedly distributing Rs 5,000 each to at least five people in Champhai South constituency to lure them into his party-fold.

Rev Mankima here said two of the beneficiaries had returned the money to the MPF of the concerned area after spending a portion.

The local MPF announced the ''malpractice'' from the public information centre with the names of the benficiaries, the Pastor was quoted as saying.

He stated that the same would be announced during a church service next Sunday.

The Mizoram Presbyterian Church-sponsored MPF had been campaigning for free, clean and less expensive elections in Mizoram.

The pastoral campaign had left a far-reaching impact on the Mizoram polls with the fact that more than 60 per cent of the state population belonging to the Presbyterian Church.

Besides ''buying of votes'', the MPF had also banned holding of public meetings by individual candidates, throwing of community feasts, door-to-door campaign and opening campaign offices.

Meanwhile, the MNF also allegedly threw a community feast at Neihdawn village, he said adding the MPF possessed a video proof.

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