AIZAWL: A civic body of the state will meet Chief Election Commissioner in Delhi to press for the demand for a change in the counting day for the assembly polls, on November 28.
The NGO Coordination Committee (NGOCC) will meet the Election Commission on Tuesday at 3 pm, said the general secretary Malsawmliana of the committee, adding that a delegation had visited the ECI office on November 24 seeking an appointment.
A five-member delegation of NGOCC is currently in Delhi.
Earlier in the day, to the Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee (MKHC), a body of 15 major churches of the state, held a prayer session seeking divine intervention for the meeting to go well.
They added that they are “disappointment” over the lack of progress in rescheduling the counting date.
For weeks, political parties, civil bodies, and church-sponsored poll watchdogs have consistently demanded rescheduling of the counting date as it falls on a Sunday – a sacred day in the Christian majority state.
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Earlier on November 21, the Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) had criticised the Election Commission (EC) of disregarding the sentiments of the people by refusing to change the date for counting votes.
The Election Commission, however, had made it quite clear that the poll body is not changing the said date.
Last week, the Chief Electoral Officer of Mizoram, Madhup Vyas, had announced that the Commission had decided not to reschedule the counting date, leading to further frustration among political circles in the state.
“I have discussed the matter with the Election Commission. Counting will be held as per the schedule announced by the commission,” Vyas had told a national news agency on November 17.
Vyas had also highlighted that counting, unlike polling, does not involve the general public. Only designated staff working directly under the EC will be involved in the counting of votes, allowing others the freedom to pursue their activities on December 3.
