Poll-counting date protest, a Mizoram voter takeoff hunger strike

Aizawl: While the rest of the state was busy casting its votes, 65-year-old Lalbiakthanga from Maubawk area of ​​Aizawl in Mizoram sat down in front of the infamous Vanapa Hall to go on a one-day hunger strike.
His fast was a request to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to revise the date of counting of votes, which is scheduled for December 3, Sunday.
Various NGOs and political parties in Mizoram have been strongly opposing the ECI schedule after the election dates were announced.
Lalbiakthanga, who is known for his past activism, had sent an email to the ECI requesting a change in the counting date before starting the hunger strike at 7 am. He expressed dissatisfaction over the ECI’s decision, and said he decided not to cast his vote as a sign of protest.
Lalbiakthanga’s earlier efforts included a walk from Aizawl to Churachandpur, aimed at shedding light on the ongoing conflict in neighboring Manipur.
His recent action is in line with the stance of Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) and the Coordination Committee, which have called for a revision of the counting date.
The election of the ECI on December 3 to count the votes faced resistance from major political parties in Mizoram, which are predominantly Christian.
Both the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), along with various church and student organisations, have formally written to the ECI, urging them to count Reset the date.