New Delhi, Aug 31: The Election Commission on Saturday rescheduled the date of counting in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana assembly polls to October 8 in place of October 4.
The decision was made after the poll body received several representations requesting a rescheduling of the election in Haryana, which was initially set for October 1.
EC had received a representation from the national president of All India Bishnoi Mahasabha, Bikaner, Rajasthan for rescheduling the date for the Haryana assembly elections.
This year, the Guru Jambheshwar remembrance festival falls on October 2 and thousands of Bishnoi families residing in Sirsa, Fatehabad, and Hisar will be traveling to Rajasthan on the day, denying them their voting rights.
“The decision has been taken to honor both the voting rights and the traditions of the Bishnoi community, which has upheld a centuries-old practice of participating in the Asoj Amavasya festival celebration in remembrance of their Guru Jambheshwar”, said ECI.
On August 24, Haryana BJP had said that the Assembly election date of October 1 is preceded by a holiday on the weekend and followed by some holidays which may hit the voting percentage ‘as people tend to go on vacation on long weekends which are followed by holidays.’
“Saturday (September 28) is a holiday for many, while Sunday is a holiday. October 1 is a poll holiday in the state which is followed by Gandhi Jayanti on October 2, which is a holiday and October 3 is also a holiday on account of Maharaja Agrasen Jayanti,” BJP had said.
