Election Commission Revises Date Of Vote Counting For Mizoram Polls To Monday

The Election Commission has changed by a day to December 4, says Election Commission

Polling officials in Mizoram ahead of voting. ( Image Source :PTI )

Counting of votes for Mizoram Assembly polls has been deferred by a day to December 4, says Election Commission. Earlier the counting of votes for all five states that went to polls last month was to be held on December 3.

The EC had earlier been approached by various quarters to change the date of counting from Sunday as it is an important day for the people of the Christian-dominated state. EC said in a statement said: “The Commission, having considered these representations, has decided to revise the date of counting for the General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Mizoram from 3rd December, 2023 (Sunday) to 4th December, 2023 (Monday).” 

The voting to elect representatives to the 40-member Mizoram legislative assembly took place on November 7, with over 80% of the 8.57 lakh voters participating. The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), main opposition Zoram People's Movement (ZPM), and Congress contested in all 40 seats, while the BJP and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) contested in 23 and 4 seats, respectively. Independent candidates numbered 27.

In the 2018 assembly polls, MNF secured 26 seats, ZPM won 8, and Congress, with 5 seats, took the third position. The BJP secured one seat.

According to news agency PTI, churches in Mizoram held special prayers for revision of the date of vote counting to a weekday.

To press for the demand for revision of the counting of votes date, members of the Mizoram NGO Coordination Committee (NGOCC) earlier staged protests throughout the state. The demonstrations were staged in Aizawl, the state capital, and various district headquarters. NGOCC, a group of prominent NGOs and student bodies, including the influential Central Young Mizo Association (CYMA) and Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), spearheaded these protests.

Lalhmachhuana, chairman of NGOCC and president of CYMA, addressed a gathering near Raj Bhawan, questioning the Election Commission for maintaining silence on the matter despite repeated appeals from political parties, churches, and NGOs, reported PTI. The plea was to reschedule the counting date, as it coincides with a Sunday, considered sacred for Christians.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the Election Commission's lack of response to their appeals, Lalhmachhuana emphasized that the demonstrations aimed to protect the Mizo community and its religious sentiments. He called upon political parties to close their offices on counting day and urged party representatives and candidates not to attend the counting centres on Sunday as a form of protest.

Leaders from other organisations, including Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl (MHIP), Mizo Students Union (MSU), Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee (MKHC), and MZP, also addressed the rally.

MZP president H Lalthianghlima and MSU president Samuel Zoramthanpuia criticized state chief electoral officer Madhup Vyas for allegedly neglecting efforts to change the counting date. Both student leaders vowed to take measures to prevent future elections under Vyas's leadership.

The counting will be held across 13 counting centres and 40 counting halls. Postal ballots will be counted first, followed by votes from EVMs. Over 4,000 personnel will be involved in the counting.