Assembly polls 2024: Election Commission revises voting day for Haryana from October 1 to October 5; results for J&K, Haryana on October 8 | India News
The decision has been taken to honour both the voting rights and the traditions of the Bishnoi community, which has upheld a centuries-old practice of participating in the Asoj Amavasya festival celebration in remembrance of their Guru Jambheshwar, said the EC
“Representations were received from National Political Parties, State Political Party and All India Bishnoi Mahasabha regarding mass movement of people of Bishnoi community of Haryana to Rajasthan to participate in centuries old Asoj Amavasya festival celebration.It may deny voting rights to large number of people and may lead to reduce voters’ participation in general election to legislative assembly of Haryana. The Commission, having considered these representations, has decided to change the date of poll only for Haryana from October 1 to October 5,” the poll panel said in a statement.No changes have been made to polling dates in Jammu and Kashmir, where voting will be held in three phases on September 18, September 25 and October 1.
BJP welcomes decision
Reacting to the announcement BJP leader Anil Vij said: ” We are thankful to the Election Commission, they took action on our application and changed the dates. We intended that on the earlier (election) dates, people would have got 5 holidays and there would have been chances people go for holidays or urgent work and this could have led to a decrease in the vote percentage.”
BJP MP Biplab Kumar Deb also welcomed the decision, stating: It is the duty of the Election Commission. At that time the main festival of the Bishnoi community takes place, so the Election Commission wants maximum voting in the elections and we welcome it … We have worked honestly in the state and the people will decide who will win.”
BJP has accepted defeat in Haryana: Congress
Former Haryana CM and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda said: “It is the Election Commission’s right, they have extended the date. They (BJP) have already accepted defeat in Haryana. When the Haryana government wrote a letter to the Election Commission, I had said at that time that the BJP had accepted defeat.”
This is a developing story
