Christian group influences poll codes in Mizoram

All these rules were published by an NGO, a poll watchdog run by the state’s largest church body.

Aizawl:  The political parties in Mizoram campaigning for the assembly elections have not only to follow the election commission’s code of conduct, but they also have another institution looming over them -- a powerful Christian NGO.

This time around, parties and their candidates will have to follow the 27 rules set by a Christian body during the campaign period. The state goes to polls on Nov. 25.

All these rules were published by an NGO, Mizoram People’s Forum (MPF), which is a poll watchdog run by the Synod, the state’s largest church body.

These include requirement of permission from the MPF to organize political rallies. There are also instructions that election manifestos should have practical promises rather than hot air.

The Mizoram synod of the Presbyterian Church of India has a very influential role as a moral force in the highly religious state, where Christians are a majority.

It was the lavish spending during the 2003 Assembly elections that led the Church to consider active intervention to “reform” the electoral process.

But, the MPF came into force only in 2006, with the 2008 Assembly elections being its first test case when it issued election “guidelines” to be followed by the candidates.

The MPF also signed a memorandum of understanding with political parties about two months ago.

The political parties who agreed to cooperate with the MPF include the Congress, Zoram National Party, Mizo National Front, Mizo Peoples Convention and the BJP.

One of election guidelines is to decrease expenditure -- and towards that end the forum has even asked the parties not to set up campaign offices.

If any political party violates any of the 27 rules, the MPF will declare it ‘invalid’.

Demonstrating their central role in Mizo life, the churches here had even forced the election commission to change the voting and counting schedule.

They pointed out that Presbyterian Church Synod and the United Pentecostal Church would be holding state-wide conference on December 4.

Further, they said that counting should not be held on Dec. 8, as Sabbath is sacrosanct for some of the churches.

Thereafter, the election commission announced that polling will take place on Nov. 25, along with Madhya Pradesh, while counting will take place on Dec. 9.

Source: New Indian Express