Haryana Assembly Election: Here's Why EC Deferred Polling To October 5

The Election Commission of India announced on Saturday that the Haryana Assembly elections, originally scheduled for October 1, have been postponed to October 5, with votes now set to be counted on October 8.

This decision was influenced by representations from both national and state political parties, as well as the All India Bishnoi Mahasabha.

Photo Credit: PTI

These groups highlighted the importance of the Asoj Amavasya festival, a centuries-old tradition for the Bishnoi community, which falls during this period.

The festival, observed in Rajasthan, draws a large number of Bishnoi community members from Haryana, potentially affecting voter turnout in the state.

The Election Commission's release acknowledged that holding the election on the original date could "deny voting rights to a large number of people and may lead to reduced voters' participation in the general election to the legislative assembly of Haryana."

The rescheduling was also requested by the Haryana unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In a letter dated August 22, BJP Haryana chief Mohanlal Badoli expressed concerns that the initial polling date would coincide with an extended holiday period.

This break included the weekend of September 28-29, followed by Gandhi Jayanti on October 2. Badoli argued that such an extended holiday could result in lower voter turnout, as many residents might take the opportunity to travel or go on vacation.

Additionally, the BJP emphasized the impact of the Bishnoi community's pilgrimage to Mukam village in Rajasthan, which would likely lead to the absence of a significant portion of their voter base on October 1.

Badoli urged the Election Commission to consider rescheduling the election to ensure maximum voter participation.

He cited previous instances where election dates had been adjusted for similar reasons, such as in the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections.

In that case, the election date was moved from February 14 to February 20 to accommodate Sant Ravidas Jayanti, which fell on February 16.

Badoli's letter reflected the party's hope for a "positive decision" from the Election Commission, emphasising the importance of ensuring that all eligible voters have the opportunity to participate in the democratic process.