Aizawl: The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) and opposition Congress in poll-bound Mizoram have written to the Chief Election Commissioner, Rajiv Kumar urging him to reschedule the date for counting of votes for the Mizoram elections on December 3, which falls on Sunday.
Elections to the 40 member Mizoram Legislative Assembly will be held on November 7, and the counting of votes will be held on December 3.
Apart from the MNF and the Congress, the Mizoram Church Leaders Committee locally known as the Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitu Committee (MKHC), has also objected to the counting date being scheduled on a Sunday.
MKHC chief, Rev Dr. C. Chawnghmingliana said, “Our religion (Christian) is not being respected, despite the fact that there are six other days that are not Sunday.”
In a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, Joint Secretary of MNF, B Lalhmangaihzuala said, “the Mizos being devout Christians, consider Sunday an important day for religious gatherings and church meetings held in all the villages across the entire state of Mizoram. Given this cultural and religious context, the Mizo National Front of Mizoram appeals to the Election Commission of India to kindly reschedule the vote counting to 4th December 2023 (Monday).”
Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee President Lalsawta too shot a letter to Chief Election Commissioner pointing out that Sunday is a sacred day for the people of Mizoram.
“We are totally against it (counting of votes). We have requested the Chief Election Commissioner to postpone the counting of votes to Monday (December 4),”Lalsawta said.
This is not the first time that the central government has drawn the ire of the Mizo people for holding an official programme on a Sunday, as they considered it a scared day.
In 2016, the BJP-led NDA government’s decision to observe ‘Good Governance Day’ on December 25 was opposed as it coincided with Christmas celebrations in the state.
“We are deeply saddened to learn that the count will be held on December 3, i.e., Sunday. As we are all aware, Sunday is a very important day for Christians. There is church service all day, so we are totally against counting of votes on a Sunday.
Christians constitute 87.16% of Mizoram population, followed by 2.75% Hindus and 1.35% Muslims.
