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The Election Commission on Wednesday changed the Mizoram assembly election schedule by advancing the polling on November 25 and postponing the counting by a day to December 9.
The polls to elect the 40-member state assembly were earlier slated on December 4 and counting was to take place on December 8.
The decision to advance poll dates in Mizoram was taken by EC after political parties, NGOs and religious organizations petitioned it with a request in this regard.
Political parties, churches and NGOs had sought a change in the dates of polling and counting of votes saying the earlier polling day coincided with the time when the Mizoram Synod, the highest decision-making body of the Presbyterian, will hold state-wide conference in Aizawl and wanted that counting should not be held on a Sunday, a sacred day for Christians.
"The Commission, having considered these inputs and representations, decided to revise the schedule for the General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Mizoram," an EC order said.
The assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh are also being held on November 25.
As per the revised Mizoram assembly poll schedule, the notification will be issued on November 1 now and the last date of nominations is November 8.
After scrutiny of nominations the next day, the last date for withdrawal of candidature is November 11 and polling on November 25. Counting of votes will be held on December 9 while counting for assembly polls in four other states will be held on December 8.
Sources said the Commission discussed the issue at its meeting chaired by Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath and Election Commissioners H S Brahma and S N A Zaidi, which was also attended by other poll officials.