Aizawl, March 18 (PTI) Opposition parties of Mizoram - the Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) and the BJP - on Thursday requested the Election Commission of India (ECI) to defer the Serchhip assembly seat bypoll and counting of votes, saying that both fell on days important for Christians.
The by-election to the Serchhip constituency in the Christian-majority state is scheduled to be held on April 17, a Saturday, and votes will be counted on May 2 which is a Sunday. The ZPM wrote to the ECI saying that Saturday is a sanctified day for certain Christian denominations in Mizoram especially Seventh Day Adventist Church which follows the Sabbath, a day of religious observance and abstinence from work. Sunday is also a holy day for Christians, the party said. "It is, therefore, requested that these two days such as polling day and counting day may be postponed on other suitable dates for favour of Christians in India to maintain secularism," the letter read.
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