Mizoram: ZPM and BJP ask ECI to defer Serchhip by-polls

Aizawl: Mizoram’s main opposition party, Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on Thursday, urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to defer the by-polls to the Serchhip assembly seat scheduled on April 17, and counting of votes which will be held simultaneously with two parliamentary constituencies and 13 others assembly constituencies in various states on May 2.

In a letter addressed to the chief election commissioner, ZPM said that the by-polls to the Serchhip assembly constituency, scheduled to be held on April 17, falls on Saturday, which is a sanctified day dedicated for worship for certain Christian denominations in Mizoram, especially Seventh Day Adventist church, which follows sabbath.

It also said that the counting of votes for Serchhip seats falls on Sunday, which is an important and holy day too for the Christians.

The party urged the poll panel to defer both the polling and counting dates to other suitable days.

“It is, therefore, requested that these two days such as polling day and counting day may be postponed on other suitable dates for the favour of Christians in India to maintain secularism,” read the letter.

Meanwhile, state BJP also urged the poll panel to defer the polling date and counting date, as both falls on Saturday and Sunday, which are sacred days for the Christians.

A statement by the party said that the voter turnout percentage could be less if polling is held on Saturday because it is a sacred day and an important day for some churches in Mizoram.

“As a democratic country, we want both dates for the by-poll and counting for Serchhip seat be deferred to suitable dates,” the statement said.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday announced by-polls to 2 parliamentary constituencies in two states and 14 assembly constituencies, including Serchhip, in 11 states to be held at the same time on April 17.

Counting of votes for the two parliamentary seats- Tirupati in Andra Pradesh and Belgaum in Karnataka and 14 assembly seats will be held simultaneously on May 2, it said.

The last date for filing nomination papers for all the by-polls is fixed on March 30, while the last date for withdrawal is scheduled on April 3. The scrutiny of nomination papers will be held on March 31.

Apart from Mizoram, assembly by-polls will be held in Gujarat (1 seat), Jharkhand (1), Karanataka (2), Madhya Pradesh (1), Maharashtra (1), Nagaland, (1) Odisha (1) Rajasthan (3) Telangana (1) and Uttarakhand (1).

According to an election official, a total of 19,433 electorates, including 10,278 will exercise their franchise in the Serchhip by-poll.

There are 29 polling stations in the Serchhip assembly constituency, he said.

The by-poll to the Serchhip seat was necessitated by the disqualification of incumbent MLA Lalduhoma, who won on an independent ticket in the last assembly polls held in November 2018.

Lalduhoma was disqualified as a legislator in November last year under the anti-defection law.

The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), main opposition Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) and Congress have already announced the names of their candidates for the coming by-poll.

The MNF has nominated party vice president and former Lok Sabha member, ex-MLA Vanlalzawma, while the ZPM will field its leader Lalduhoma to retain his seat. Congress has nominated party leader P.C. Laltlansanga.

Both the BJP and People’s Conference (PC) party are yet to officially announce the names of their candidates.

Party sources said that the BJP will field former state BJP spokesperson Lalhriatrenga Chhangte, while PC will field its vice president Vanlalruata.