Assembly elections 2023: EC changes counting date for Mizoram to December 4

Mizoram election

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced a modification in the Mizoram counting date, shifting it from December 3 to December 4 following representations.

It said the decision was taken following representations from various quarters requesting for a change in the date of counting from December 3 on the ground that Sunday holds a special significance for the people of Mizoram, a Christian-majority state.

''The Commission, having considered these representations, has decided to revise the date of counting for the General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Mizoram from 3rd December, 2023 (Sunday) to 4th December, 2023 (Monday),'' it stated.

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Meanwhile, most exit polls on November 30 put the BJP ahead in Madhya Pradesh and gave it an edge in Rajasthan while predicting that it was advantage Congress in Telangana and Chhattisgarh. India Today-Axis My India, Today's Chanakya and India TV-CNX predicted a big victory for the BJP in Madhya Pradesh.

In Mizoram, while India TV-CNX said the MNF would get 14-18 seats, ZPM 12-16, Congress 8-10 and BJP 0-2 in the 40-member House, ABP News-C Voter said MNF would get 15-21, ZPM 12-18 and Congress 2-8. Jan Ki Baat said the MNF would get 10-14 seats, ZPM 15-25 seats, Congress 5-9 and the BJP 0-2. Jan Ki Baat said the MNF would get 10-14 seats, ZPM 15-25 seats, Congress 5-9 and the BJP 0-2.

While Republic Matrize said the MNF would get 17-22, ZPM 7-12, Congress 7-10 and BJP 1-2, Times Now-ETG gave 14-18 seats to the MNF, 10-14 to the ZPM, 9-13 to the Congress and 0-2 to the BJP.

The counting was earlier scheduled for December 3, along that in four other states -- Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana - where assembly polls were held last month.

The election dates for the five states were: Mizoram on November 7, Chhattisgarh on November 7 and November 17, Madhya Pradesh on November 17, Rajasthan on November 25, and Telangana on November 30. The results of the five assembly elections will be declared on Sunday, December 3.

These elections are crucial as they are taking place months before the Lok Sabha elections scheduled for April-May next year. The Election Commission of India (EC), in a notification on Thursday, informed that the exit polls can be out after 5:30 pm.