A six-member delegation of Mizoram NGO Coordination Committee (NGOCC), an umbrella body of major civil society and student organisations, has left for Delhi with the hope to meet Election Commission officials to reschedule the day for counting of votes for state assembly polls. They have no official appointment with the EC, reports PTI.
The counting of votes for the five states – Mizoram, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan – will be held on December 3.
As December 3 is a Sunday, all major political parties of the Christian-majority state, civil society organisations and others had urged the poll panel to change the day as it will clash with church programmes.
However, the apex body has not agreed to their demands, saying that counting doesn’t involve common people and they are free to do as they wish, unlike the polling date.
“Although we don’t have a prior appointment with the Election Commission, we have been advised (by a section of officials) to reach Delhi and try to meet the EC officials on Friday. We can’t wait for an appointment,” Malsawmliana, the general secretary of the Central Young Mizo Association (CYMA), told PTI.
The CYMA is a constituent of the NGOCC while Malsawmliana is one of the six people who are going to Delhi. He expressed hope that the ECI would agree to their demands.
Meanwhile, CYMA president Lalhmachhuana said that they would try to meet the chief election commissioner and request him to reschedule the counting date.
Mizoram went to polls on November 7, and witnessed a voter turnout of over 80 per cent. The fate of 174 candidates have been sealed and decided by over 8.57 lakh voters.
As soon as the dates of polling was announced by the ECI, appeals have been made by various stakeholders to change the counting dates in the Christian-dominated state.