NEW DELHI: Election Commission on Saturday rescheduled the polling date in Haryana to Oct 5 to secure the voting rights of the state’s sizable Bishnoi community, and accordingly revised the counting date for Haryana and J& K to Oct 8.
The decision followed representations a week ago from parties like BJP and INLD, as well as All India Bishnoi Mahasabha. EC has adjusted election dates to respect the sentiments of various communities in the past too.
Date-change to honour Bishnoi tradition: EC
As per original schedule announced on Aug 16, polling in Haryana was to be held on Oct 1 along with the last round of voting in J&K, followed by counting for both the states on Oct 4.J&K will still wind up polling as scheduled on Oct 1, but shall have to wait longer, till Oct 8, for the results.
The decision “was taken to honour tradition of Bishnoi community of visiting their native Mukam (Rajasthan) during ‘amavas’ in month of ‘Asoj’ for their annual festival in Bikaner, in memory of Guru Jambheshwar,” an EC official told TOI.
“This year, the festival falls on Oct 2 and thousands of Bishnoi families residing in Sirsa, Fatehabad and Hisar would be travelling to Rajasthan from Oct 1 (the original poll day in Haryana). Unless the polling was rescheduled, they would be denied their voting rights,” the functionary added.
The revised polling day, EC sources told TOI, would also resolve any concerns regarding a large number of Haryana’s voters choosing to travel out for a six-day holiday by taking a one-day leave on Sept 30, an eventuality that could adversely impact voter turnout.
The poll panel had sought a report from Haryana CEO soon after the change in election date was sought. The report was received on Saturday in which he cited his consultation with the DCs of Hisar, Sirsa, and Fatehabad.
During Punjab assembly polls in 2022, it postponed the polls by a week to accommodate devotees travelling to Varanasi for Guru Ravidas Jayanti. In Manipur during 2022 state polls, polling dates were changed to respect Christian community’s Sunday prayers. In the 2023 Rajasthan assembly elections, it rescheduled polling originally fixed on Devuthani Ekadashi, a day significant for mass weddings in Rajasthan. In Uttar Pradesh in 2012, the election date was changed due to Barawafat.
“EC has consistently upheld the belief that ‘every vote matters’ and strives to create an ecosystem that encourages active participation of all stakeholders,” a senior EC official told TOI.
The decision followed representations a week ago from parties like BJP and INLD, as well as All India Bishnoi Mahasabha. EC has adjusted election dates to respect the sentiments of various communities in the past too.
Date-change to honour Bishnoi tradition: EC
As per original schedule announced on Aug 16, polling in Haryana was to be held on Oct 1 along with the last round of voting in J&K, followed by counting for both the states on Oct 4.J&K will still wind up polling as scheduled on Oct 1, but shall have to wait longer, till Oct 8, for the results.
The decision “was taken to honour tradition of Bishnoi community of visiting their native Mukam (Rajasthan) during ‘amavas’ in month of ‘Asoj’ for their annual festival in Bikaner, in memory of Guru Jambheshwar,” an EC official told TOI.
“This year, the festival falls on Oct 2 and thousands of Bishnoi families residing in Sirsa, Fatehabad and Hisar would be travelling to Rajasthan from Oct 1 (the original poll day in Haryana). Unless the polling was rescheduled, they would be denied their voting rights,” the functionary added.
The revised polling day, EC sources told TOI, would also resolve any concerns regarding a large number of Haryana’s voters choosing to travel out for a six-day holiday by taking a one-day leave on Sept 30, an eventuality that could adversely impact voter turnout.
The poll panel had sought a report from Haryana CEO soon after the change in election date was sought. The report was received on Saturday in which he cited his consultation with the DCs of Hisar, Sirsa, and Fatehabad.
During Punjab assembly polls in 2022, it postponed the polls by a week to accommodate devotees travelling to Varanasi for Guru Ravidas Jayanti. In Manipur during 2022 state polls, polling dates were changed to respect Christian community’s Sunday prayers. In the 2023 Rajasthan assembly elections, it rescheduled polling originally fixed on Devuthani Ekadashi, a day significant for mass weddings in Rajasthan. In Uttar Pradesh in 2012, the election date was changed due to Barawafat.
“EC has consistently upheld the belief that ‘every vote matters’ and strives to create an ecosystem that encourages active participation of all stakeholders,” a senior EC official told TOI.