Mizoram: Election Commission of India Faces Requests for Vote Counting Date Change in Mizoram

KOHIMA: In a recent development in the state of Mizoram, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has not yet responded to appeals made by various stakeholders, including political parties, churches, civil society organizations, and student bodies, regarding a potential deferment of the vote counting date. This information comes from a senior official in the Mizoram election department. State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Madhup Vyas expressed that their office has not received any response from the Central poll panel regarding a potential shift in the vote counting date.

Additional CEO H Lianzela added that the Election Commission, which may seek input from the state election department regarding the proposed change in counting date, has not done so as of now. He mentioned that some organizations and political parties have directly sent letters to the ECI, while others have gone through the CEO. In response, the Mizoram election department is planning to send forwarding letters to the Election Commission on behalf of those organizations that submitted their appeals through the CEO.

At this point, it remains unclear whether the ECI will grant the request to alter the counting date, but the official suggested that the poll panel does not appear to be in a hurry to make a decision. He emphasized that preparations for the upcoming assembly polls are proceeding smoothly.

On October 9, the ECI unveiled the schedule for assembly elections in five states, including Mizoram. Polling for the 40-member Mizoram assembly is slated for November 7, with vote counting for all five states scheduled for December 3, a Sunday.

Seven political parties, including the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) and the BJP, along with civil society organizations and student bodies, including the Central Young Mizo Association (CYMA), jointly penned a letter to the ECI on October 12. In this letter, they urged the Central poll panel to reconsider the counting date and select a different, more suitable day, apart from Saturday or Sunday. The basis of their plea was that nearly 90% of Mizoram's population is Christian, and Sunday holds immense religious significance for the people.

The letter emphasized that the Mizos devoutly dedicate Sundays to worship, and it is considered a sacred day. As such, no official programs or business activities are typically scheduled for Sundays in Mizoram. Prior to this collective appeal, the majority of political parties, including the MNF and BJP, and the Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee (MKHC), a conglomerate of major churches in the state, had also approached the ECI, requesting a change in the counting date. They cited Sunday as a sacred day for Mizoram's Christian community, which constitutes approximately 87% of the state's population according to the 2011 census data.

This story highlights the ongoing debate in Mizoram concerning the counting date for the upcoming assembly elections and the religious and cultural considerations that have prompted political parties and various organizations to seek a change in the schedule. As Mizoram awaits the Election Commission of India's response, the question of balancing democratic processes with cultural and religious sensitivities remains at the forefront of the discussion.

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