Chhattisgarh, 15 December 2009: Chhattisgarh State Election Commission issued a notification on 19th November 2009, according to which civic polls for Nagar Nigams, Nagar Palika Parishads and Nagar Panchayats were scheduled in three phases on 21st, 24th and 27th December 2009.

As per 2001 census, the Christians in Chhattisgarh are about 2.7%, while the Muslims are about 2.6%. The active participation in polling by these two communities would have been affected due to the major festivals of these two communities viz. Christmas on 25th December and Moharram on 28th December. Rev. A. Edgar and the team therefore decided to mobilized local EFI network in this regard. Timely action was essential in this matter.

A delegation of the Christians led by Rev. A. Edgar (Associate Director – Evangelical Fellowship of India ) and Mr. Arun Pannalal (General Secretary - Chhattisgarh Christian Forum), called on the secretary of the State Election Commission on 24th November 2009 and made him aware of the concerns of the Christian community.

Chhattisgarh Christian Forum is a part of the EFI .

A memorandum was submitted to the election commission, which clarified that 24th December is also a very important day for the Christians, as the Christians make preparations for next days' celebrations, offer special prayers in the churches, make charities to the poor, disabled and to other downtrodden people, take out rallies communicating the Good News to the society. Common Christians therefore will not be enthusiastic about polling, and this will severely affect the poll results. These polls will be held through the ballots and not through the electronic voting machines. It is very time consuming process, government employees therefore will not be able to celebrate their most significant festival.

Chhattisgarh Christian Forum demanded a change in the polling schedule. Though the authorities promised a sympathetic consideration of the demand including exemption of election duties to serving members of the Minority communities, yet they expressed many technical difficulties also in changing the polling schedule.

In order to ensure a favorable decision, Rev. A. Edgar met an influential group of the leaders from the Muslim community on 25th evening. They discussed the situation with the Muslim leaders and they promised active co-operation. Next day on 26th November, a joint delegation of the religious, social and political leaders of the Christian and Muslim communities along with representatives from Backward communities submitted a memorandum to the State Election Officer of Chhattisgarh. Leaders of All India Muslim Backward Classes Federation, Chhattisgarh Markazi Mutawalli Council, Madarsa Idara-E- Sharia Yatimkhana, Kushwaha Samaj and Chhattisgarh State Congress Committee Minority Department were part of the joint delegation. They argued that 24th and 27th December are very important for Christian and Muslim communities respectively, giving reasons. Muslims participate in various religious traditions for 10-12 days just before the Moharram. So the Muslims will not be interested for polling on 27th December.

Chhattisgarh State Election Commission after considering our genuine appeal announced the rescheduled election programme for civic bodies under which the polls would be held on 21st and 23rd December. Mr Shivraj Singh, State Election Officer stated that, "Chhattisgarh State Election Commission received various applications regarding change in poll schedule from different communities including one political party - Communist Party of India (Marxist). After which it discussed the matter with the representatives of authorised political parties and eventually decided to prepone the election dates."

Election Commission generally does not change the election schedule after issuing the notification.

EFI associates played key role in bringing Christian, Muslim and Backward communities together. They were very much involved in entire lobbying and coordination. Adv. Mrs. Kiranmayi Nayak, a prominent High Court advocate and socio political leader from Backward community actively helped us.