The Election Commission of India has accepted requests from Rajasthan not to hold polling on Dev Uthani Ekadashi, an auspicious day for Hindus when a large number of weddings are scheduled, but has remained silent on appeals from Mizoram to reschedule the counting date because most of the deeply pious state’s population attends church on Sunday.
Poll panel officials did not respond to queries from this paper seeking a response on the requests of the ruling BJP-ally Mizo National Front, and the Congress seeking deferment of counting on December 3.
On Wednesday, the EC announced that it had deferred polling in Rajasthan from November 23 to November 25.
Justifying its decision, the EC explained in a press note: “…Representations have been received in the Commission from various political parties, social organisations and also issues raised in various media platforms for change of date of poll considering large scale wedding/social engagement on that day which may cause inconvenience to large number of people, various logistic issues and may lead to reduced voters participation during poll.”
On Wednesday, an influential organisation of Church leaders petitioned the EC to reschedule the date of counting of votes as December 3 falls on a Sunday — a “sacred day for Christians” in Mizoram.
The Aizawl-based Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee (MKHC), a conglomerate of various Churches and denominations, submitted the petition to chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar through state chief electoral officer Madhup Vyas late afternoon, the organisation’s secretary Rev. R. Lalrinsanga told The Telegraph from Aizawl.
The MKHC representation to the CEC said: “Sunday is a sacred day for Christians and the Church worship services are held in all towns and villages, refraining from secular and other business activities. Therefore, we request you to change the date for counting of votes not to fall on Saturday and Sunday.”
The MKHC in another letter urged the CEO “to kindly take (the) pain as to ensure early delivery (of their petition) to the Chief Election Commissioner of India”.
