Mizoram: Civil society, political parties welcome ECI decision to defer date for counting of votes

Political parties as well as CSOs had sent multiple representations to the ECI seeking for a change in date for the counting day.

Political parties as well as civil society organisation of Mizoram have expressed their gratitude to the Election Commission of India (ECI) for rescheduling the date for counting of votes for the state assembly elections held on November 7.

The NGO Coordinating Committee (NGOCC) and political parties had reached out to the ECI multiple times seeking for a change in the date as the date as per the ECI fell on a Sunday, the day of prayers for Mizoram, a Christian majority state.

The NGOCC issued a statement and thanked the political parties and churches for the “collective support in its efforts to defer the counting date.”

Thanking the ECI, the NGOCC stated, “We also express our gratitude to the Election Commission of India (ECI) for considering our appeals and it is our appeal and prayer that our religious sentiments shall be respected for all elections too, in the future to come.”

In fact, the NGOCC had staged protest in Aizawl yesterday alleging that the ECI had not responded to the representations till the afternoon. However, late in the evening the ECI announced the change in date.
The Opposition Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) too have welcomed the ECI’s decision.

ZPM working president K Sapdanga said, “Zoram People’s Movement party is delighted by the fact that ECI has decided to reschedule the date for counting of votes from Sunday i.e 3rd December to Monday 4th December. As such we convey our sincere gratitude to the Election Commission of India.

We applaud the combined effort of everyone involved to make this happen, especially the NGO Coordination Committee (NGOCC) and Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitu Committee (MKHC) for their hard work and dedication.”

Yesterday, the ECI in a statement said that it had received several representations from different stakeholders in Mizoram seeking for a change in the date following which the decision was taken to reschedule the date.

The ECI stated, “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).”

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