Mizoram church leaders, parties again appeal to reschedule counting date

AIZAWL: Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee (MKHC), a conglomerate of leaders of major church denominations, on Thursday once again approached the state chief electoral officer (CEO), Madhup Vyas, urging him to reschedule vote counting from December 3 to either December 4 or 5.

The MKHC leaders were also accompanied by representatives of political parties, civil societies, student organisations and Mizoram People's Forum (MPF) - a church-sponsored election watchdog. Political parties and other organisations also submitted separate appeals to the CEO over the issue.

This is the third time the MKHC appealed to the Election Commission to change the date of the counting of votes, which falls on a Sunday, a sacred day for the Christians.

MKHC joint secretary Lalnilawma Kawlni said Vyas informed them that he would forward the letters to the EC.

Chairman of MKHC Rev Dr Chawnghmingthanga, who is also the moderator of the Presbyterian Church's Mizoram Synod, told TOI that they had submitted their second appeal to chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Friday last, asking the latter to consider postponement of the counting day. The MKHC had submitted the same appeal to the CEC after the announcement of the poll dates by the EC.

All the major political parties in the state, including the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), Zoram People's Movement (ZPM), Congress, and BJP have already submitted their appeals to the EC to defer the date of counting of votes. The NGOCC - obtaining signatures of all the political parties, civil societies, and student organisations - had also submitted a similar appeal to the central poll panel through the state CEO.

The MKHC and other individual church denominations had submitted letters, too, opposing the date of counting, appealing its deferment and choosing another date that does not fall on a Saturday or Sunday.