The Election Commission on Saturday rescheduled the Assembly elections in Haryana and altered the counting dates in Haryana as well as in Jammu and Kashmir.
The EC has acceded to the same as have the BJP and the Indian National Lok Dal in Haryana about one week ago. The Congress and the Jannayak Janta Party had expressed their opposition to change in the dates and had said that the BJP had asked for change as they were ‘running scared’.
Haryana will now vote on October 5 and counting for both the states will be on October 8. The BJP had while presenting their arguments to the EC remarked that many people would leave for the long weekend if the polling was to be conducted on October 1 (Tuesday) by proceeding to work on September 30 on casual leaves. The BJP and INLD had also stated that on October 2 it is Gandhi Jayanti and New Moon of Asoj month.
The EC said in a media release: “Some National Political Parties, State Political Party and All India Bishnoi Mahasabha have claimed that due to massive migration of Bishnoi community of Haryana to Rajasthan to participate in Asoj Amavasya celebration which has been ongoing for several centuries it may pose a threat to deny voting right to many people and ultimately reduce voter turnout in general elections to the legislative Assembly of Haryana. ”
While polling in Haryana is held in a single phase, it is conducted in three phases in Jammu and Kashmir – September 18 , 25 and October 1 — because of higher strength of security forces required for the protection of the voters and candidates from the militant violence.
Assuming an arithmetic for elections of the different states that are in it occurs in one day to avoid anyone voting of the result of the other. Earlier, the counting had been fixed for October 4 for both – Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir states.
