EC defers Haryana polls to Oct 5; counting on Oct 8 along with J-K

Haryana BJP president Mohan Lal Badoli had written to the EC on August 22, seeking a postponement, arguing that there were holidays, including Gandhi Jayanti on October 2, before and after the poll date, which would give residents five holidays in a row. This would impact the turnout as people may use the opportunity to travel out of the state.

While announcing its decision, the EC said representations were received from national parties, a state party and the All-India Bishnoi Mahasabha, “regarding mass movement of people of the Bishnoi community of Haryana to Rajasthan to participate in the centuries-old Asoj Amavasya festival celebration.”

“It may deny voting rights to a large number of people and may lead to reduced voter participation in the election to the legislative assembly of Haryana. The Commission, having considered these representations, has decided to change the date of poll only for Haryana from October 1, 2024 (Tuesday) to October 5, 2024 (Saturday),” the EC said.

The date of the third phase of polling in Jammu and Kashmir will remain the same, ie., October 1.

According to EC sources, the decision to postpone the Haryana poll date was taken as the electors belonging to the Bishnoi community from three districts (Sirsa, Fatehabad and Hisar) were expected to travel to attend the 300-year-old Asoj Amavasya festival to honour Guru Jambheshwar in Bikaner.

While the Commission, comprising Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, visited Haryana to review poll preparations and meet political parties last month, a senior EC source said these issues were not raised by any of the parties during that time. The EC had scheduled the elections keeping in mind the gazetted and restricted holidays in the state, the source said.

After receiving the representations, the EC had sought a report from the state chief electoral officer, who submitted it on Saturday, a source said. The CEO had consulted the deputy commissioners of the three districts with a sizeable Bishnoi community, the source added.

This isn’t the first time the Election Commission has changed a polling date after announcing it. During the 2022 Punjab Assembly polls, the date was postponed by a week to accommodate devotees who visited Varanasi to celebrate Guru Ravidas Jayanti, EC sources said. In the 2022 Manipur elections, the EC changed the poll date since it was a Sunday, when Christians attend church. The 2023 Rajasthan polls were also rescheduled since it clashed with Devuthani Ekadashi, a day when mass weddings take place. In 2012, the EC had changed the Uttar Pradesh poll schedule owing to Barawafat or the Milad un Nabi.