The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced a change in the polling date for the Haryana Assembly elections, shifting it from October 1 to October 5, 2024. Subsequently, the counting day for both the Jammu & Kashmir and Haryana Assembly elections has been moved from October 4 to October 8.

The decision to revise the dates was made to honour both the voting rights and the cultural 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, the poll panal said.

"Representations have been 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" the EC said in an official statement.

"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," it added.

This year, the Asoj Amavasya festival falls on October 2 and thousands of Bishnoi families residing in Sirsa, Fatehabad and Hisar will be travelling to Rajasthan on the day, denying them their voting rights.

Even the BJP had previously appealed to the Election Commission to reschedule the Assembly polls originally slated for October 1, citing the proximity of holidays that could lead to a lower voter turnout.

Haryana BJP chief Mohan Lal Badoli argued in his letter that many people tend to go on vacation during the week surrounding October 1, which might affect voter participation.

Earlier, the poll panel had on August 16 announced that Assembly polls in Haryana would be held in a single phase on October 1 and the results would be declared on October 4.

Meanwhile, there will be no change in the polling dates of the three-phased Assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir. As per the announcement, the voters in Jammu and Kashmir will cast their votes on September 18, September 25, and October 1.

Source: India Today