Mizoram Activists Set to Rally for Change in Vote Counting Date

The Mizoram NGO Coordination Committee (NGOCC) is preparing for a series of protests scheduled for Friday in order to advocate for a change in the date of the vote counting for the state assembly elections. The decision was reached during a meeting held by the NGOCC on Thursday evening, as announced by the committee’s general secretary, Malsawmliana.

The committee has expressed its disappointment with the election commission’s failure to respond to numerous requests to reschedule the vote counting date, which is currently set for December 3. The primary concern is that this date falls on a Sunday, which is considered a sacred day for the Christian majority in the state. The committee members are dismayed by the fact that despite appeals from political parties, churches, and NGOCC, the election commission has not taken any action to change the date.

As a result, demonstrations are planned to take place across the state on Friday, with the main protest being held at Treasury Square near Raj Bhavan in Aizawl from 11am to 1pm. Similar protests will also be carried out in other district headquarters under the leadership of NGOCC.

The dissatisfaction with the current vote counting schedule is rooted in the fact that it coincides with a Sunday, which is a day of worship for the Christian population of Mizoram. Upon the announcement of the election schedule on October 9, objections were raised by various groups in Mizoram, prompting appeals to the election commission to reconsider the date. Despite these efforts, the original date of December 3 was upheld.

In an attempt to address this issue, a delegation from the NGOCC met with Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and other officials in Delhi earlier this week to appeal for a change in the counting date. While Kumar assured the NGOCC leaders that the matter will be discussed by the full members of the Election Commission, no official decision has been made as of yet.

The state assembly elections in Mizoram, which took place on November 7, saw a high voter turnout, with over 80% of the eligible 8.57 lakh voters participating in the electoral process. Despite the ongoing discussions regarding the vote counting date, election officials have assured that all necessary preparations are in place for the scheduled counting on Sunday.

The protests planned by the NGOCC represent the collective voice of various civil societies and student bodies in Mizoram, all joining forces to advocate for a change that is reflective of the sentiments of the people. The hope is that their efforts will lead to a reconsideration of the current vote counting date, taking into account the religious significance of Sundays in the state.