Aizawl:The largest Christian denomination of Mizoram – the Mizoram Presbyterian Church has issued an election statement warning political parties and candidates not to make tall promises that cannot be delivered.
In the election decree which was issued last week, the Mizoram Presbyterian Church warned all political parties to field candidates who abide by the laws of the nation and that of the church.
“We expect all the candidates for the upcoming elections to abide by the laws of the land, must not make promises that cannot be delivered and should abstain from collaborating with underground elements and other elements that will hamper the integrity and communal harmony of Mizoram,” the church statement read.
Mizoram Presbyterian Church Synod is the largest Christian denomination in Mizoram. It was a direct progeny of the Calvinistic Methodist Church (officially named the Presbyterian Church of Wales in 1928) in Wales. It was the first church in Mizoram and is now one of the constituent bodies of a larger denomination Presbyterian Church of India (PCI), which has its headquarters at Shillong in Meghalaya.
The decree or the church’s notice will be read out in all the units of the Presbyterian Church across the state. Mizoram Synod Secretary Elder R Dengzikpuia has appealed to all the churches affiliated to the Mizoram Presbyterian Church to read out in the church services and distribute leaflets to all members of the church.
The church election appeal said it supports and will uphold the Rs 20 lakh election expenditure ceiling made by the Election Commission of India.
“The church expects all the candidates running for the upcoming election adhere to the ECI norms on campaign expenditure,” the statement read.
The church appeal also solicited its members to follow the initiatives of election watchdog spearheaded by all the church leaders and several NGOs – the Mizoram People Forum (MPF).
Mizoram Presbyterian Church has over six lakh members across the state. Mizoram is expected to go to polls in November.