EC advances counting in Haryana to February 23

The Election Commission today decided to advance the date of counting of votes in Haryana Assembly polls by four days, to February 23.

Counting in Haryana was originally scheduled for February 27 along with Bihar and Jharkhand. The EC decision came in the wake of Haryana CM Om Prakash Chautala’s move to call an all-party meeting on the issue of prolonged schedule which he claimed was getting in way of the government’s daily functioning.

Meanwhile, the Punjab and Haryana HC today directed that all appointment letters issued by the Haryana Government during the operation of the model code of conduct would not be considered valid. The code came into force on December 17 and will remain in force till March 5.