Mizoram Assembly Election 2018: The ruling grand old Congress party in Mizoram accused the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre of trying to upset the election public meeting to be addressed by party president Rahul Gandhi on November 20. Gandhi scion is scheduled to address a rally at Champhai and another at Aizawl on November 20, but there is doubt about the venue of the second programme, party spokesman Lallianchhunga stated. The party had on November 18 sought consent from the Assam Rifles to use its ground for the public meeting, but is yet to get permission from the para-military force, as he told reporters.

The Assam Rifles had not allowed the party to hold a programme of Gandhi scion in October, saying the ground was to be utilized only for sports purposes, the Congress spokesperson stated. Lallianchhunga, however, said when the Congress came to know that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a rally on the same ground on Friday, the party applied for the ground for Congress scion programme.

"Why this discrimination? The Assam Rifles seems to have orders from the Ministry of Home Affairs not to allow the use of their (Assam Rifles) ground for Rahul Gandhi's rally," Lallianchhunga made allegations.

"We are optimistic that the rally will finally be held at the Assam Rifles ground. But, as an alternative, we are keeping the Mizoram Armed Police parade ground at Mualpui, on the outskirts of Aizawl, ready," he stated. The polling for the 40-member assembly in Mizoram will be held on November 28 while the results will be announced on December 11.