Haryana Assembly Elections: EC Reschedules Polling To October 5, Counting On October 8

The Election Commission (EC) has rescheduled the Haryana assembly election to October 5, 2024, from the previously planned October 1.

This decision was made to honor the voting rights and traditions of the Bishnoi community, whose annual festival falls during this period.

Photo Credit: PTI

As a result, the counting day for both the Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir elections has been moved to October 8 from the earlier date of October 4.

The Bishnoi community, known for its centuries-old tradition of participating in the "Asoj Amavasya" festival in remembrance of Guru Jambeshwar, plays a central role in this decision.

The EC received requests from the All India Bishnoi Mahasabha, based in Bikaner, Rajasthan, to reconsider the election date in Haryana.

The Bishnoi group highlighted that many families from Punjab, Rajasthan, and Haryana have long observed a tradition of visiting their village Mukam in Rajasthan during "Amavas" in the month of "Asoj" for this annual festival in Bikaner, honoring Guru Jambheshwar.

This year, the festival falls on October 2, and thousands of Bishnoi families living in the districts of Sirsa, Fatehabad, and Hisar would be traveling to Rajasthan on the original voting day, potentially missing the opportunity to cast their votes.

The EC acknowledged this concern, stating that the rescheduling ensures these families are not denied their voting rights.

The EC has a history of adjusting election dates to respect the sentiments of various communities.

In the 2022 Punjab assembly election, the EC postponed the election by a week to accommodate devotees traveling to Varanasi for Guru Ravidas Jayanti.

During the 2022 Manipur assembly elections, the EC changed polling dates to respect the Christian community's Sunday prayers.

In the 2023 Rajasthan assembly election, the polling date was rescheduled from Devuthani Ekadashi, a day significant for mass weddings in Rajasthan.

In the 2012 Uttar Pradesh assembly election, the poll date was adjusted due to Barawafat.

The revised polling day in Haryana will also address concerns about a potential six-day holiday by taking a one-day leave on September 30, according to the EC.