Sundays Sacred For Christians: Mizoram Parties Bat For Rescheduled Counting Date

AIZAWL: The main political parties in predominantly Christian Mizoram, including the BJP, Congress, and the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), have jointly penned letters to the Election Commission (EC), appealing for a change in the date set for the assembly election vote counting. The current schedule sets the counting for December 3, which is a Sunday.

Other parties that have also addressed the EC regarding the matter include the Zoram People's Movement and the People's Conference. Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee (MKHC), an alliance of major churches in the state, has submitted a similar request to the EC, asking for a shift in the counting date.

The EC recently unveiled the election schedule for five states, which includes Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh. The polling for the 40-member Mizoram assembly will take place in a single phase on November 7, and vote counting for all five states is set for December 3.

In the letter addressed to Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, MKHC emphasized that Sundays hold a sacred place in the hearts of Christians, where worship services are conducted in towns and villages across the state. They, therefore, requested a change in the vote counting date.

The BJP, in their communication to the EC, voiced the significance of postponing the vote counting date, as Sunday represents a holy day for Christians in Mizoram. Throughout the state, the entire day is dedicated to church services.

The ruling MNF sent their own letter to the EC, requesting that the vote counting be rescheduled to December 4, which is a Monday.

Lalsawta, State Congress president, highlighted in his letter to the EC that Sundays are sacred for the people of Mizoram, with no official programs or businesses taking place on that day. In consideration of these religious sentiments, he urged the EC to reschedule the vote counting to any day between Monday and Friday.

Mizoram boasts a Christian population of around 87 percent, according to the 2011 Census.

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