AIZAWL: In preparation for the Mizoram assembly polls scheduled for November 7, there is a growing clamor for a change in the date for counting votes, which is currently set for December 3. The primary reason for this appeal is that December 3 falls on a Sunday, a sacred day for the Christian community in Mizoram, and several prominent groups are united in their request for rescheduling.
Last month, a coalition of religious leaders, political parties, and non-governmental organizations submitted a joint letter to the Election Commission, urging them to reconsider the counting date. The appeal is motivated by a desire to respect the religious significance of Sunday, especially for the Christian population in the region.
During a recent joint meeting, several influential entities, including the Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee (MKHC), the NGO Coordination Committee (comprising major civil society organizations and student bodies), the Mizoram People’s Forum (MPF), a church-sponsored election watchdog, and political parties, reiterated their stance that the vote counting date should be rescheduled to December 4 or 5. Furthermore, they decided to submit another appeal to the Election Commission to emphasize their request.
In the event of the Election Commission not responding within 24 hours of the appeal's submission, these groups agreed to convene another meeting to determine their next steps. Their commitment to this cause remains unwavering, with the aim of ensuring that vote counting does not take place on a Sunday.
Leaders representing MKHC, a coalition of major churches in Mizoram, took the initiative to re-submit the appeal to the Election Commission, emphasizing the importance of accommodating the religious sentiments of the Christian community.
Meanwhile, as electioneering for the state assembly intensifies, political parties have engaged in a flurry of allegations and counter-allegations. The Chief Minister, Zoramthanga, who also serves as the President of the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), expressed confidence in his party's ability to retain power and secure 25 or more seats.
The opposition, including the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) and the Congress, is also optimistic about their prospects in the assembly polls. Although there are three major parties – MNF, ZPM, and Congress – political observers anticipate that the upcoming elections will be primarily contested between MNF and ZPM, with the latter emerging as the primary challenger to the incumbent MNF, thus signaling a potentially pivotal electoral showdown in Mizoram.
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