Mizoram Chief Electoral Officer: Civil society has welcomed change of counting date

Mizoram Chief Electoral Officer Madhup Vyas has stated that the civil soceity and various organisations of Mizoram have welcomed the change of counting date from Sunday to Monday. 

Addressing the media in Aizawl today, Vyas said that the civil soceity organisations have welcomed the date change as Sunday has religious significance for the Christian majority populace of Mizoram. 

"As per the original schedule, the counting for the five poll going states was fixed on December 3, that is Sunday. However, civil soceity organisations and political parties in Mizoram has requested the Election Commission to change the date of counting considering the local sentiments as Sunday is devoted for church service. So yesterday Election Commission agreed to the request and changed the date of counting of votes for Mizoram from December 3 to December 4. This has been reportedly welcomed by the civil society and political parties," said Vyas. 

The Mizoram CEO also said that they are fully prepared for the counting day after the date change by the Election Commission. Vyas said that counting will b taking place in 40 counting halls. 

"We are fully prepared for undertaking the counting of votes. The counting will take place in 40 counting halls. We have 40 assemblies and they each have a counting hall. EC has provided us 40 counting observers. Each hall will be supervised by the exclusive counting observer. These 40 counting halls are in 13 locations. Within Aizawl, there are 3 locations," said Vyas.

The Mizoram CEO further talked of the security arrangements that have been made for the counting day in Mizoram. 

"We have made full proof arrangements for maintaining law and order and smooth counting through Mizoram Police and ten companies of CAPF. We had recieved 50 companies of CAPF for the polling. Now we are left with four CAPF companies who have been deployed for security," said Vyas. 

Noteworthy here is that the India Today-Axis My India exit poll has predicted that the Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) is likely to sweep the Assembly election in Mizoram, which was held on November 7. 

The regional party may win between 28 and 35 seats in the 40-member house. If that becomes true on December 4, the day of counting, ZPM leader Lalduhoma, the 74-year-old former IPS officer will take oath as the next chief minister of Mizoram.

According to the exit poll, the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) will win between three and seven seats while the Congress will have to stay happy with two and four seats. The BJP, which contested only in 23 seats is unlikely to open account in the Christian-dominated northeastern state.

The ZPM is set to corner 49 per cent of the total vote share while 27 per cent voted for the MNF, predicts the exit poll. The Congress vote share will remain restricted to 20 per cent.