New Delhi: The election commission (EC) of india has announced a revision in the dates for the haryana assembly election, moving the polling day from october 1 to october 5. This adjustment has been made to honor the voting rights and traditions of the Bishnoi community, whose important festival coincides with the original polling date.
Reasons for the Revision
The Bishnoi community celebrates the Asoj Amavasya festival in remembrance of Guru Jambeshwar, which falls on october 2 this year. This festival is a significant event for the community, with many members traveling to their ancestral village Mukam in rajasthan to participate in the celebrations. Given that thousands of Bishnoi families from Sirsa, Fatehabad, and hisar would be traveling to rajasthan on the original polling day, the election commission decided to reschedule the election to ensure that they could exercise their voting rights.
New Schedule for haryana and Jammu & Kashmir
Polling Date: october 5, 2024
Counting Day: october 8, 2024 (revised from october 4)
The revised counting day for the haryana assembly election, as well as the kashmir - SRINAGAR/JAMMU' target='_blank' title='jammu and kashmir-Latest Updates, Photos, Videos are a click away, CLICK NOW">jammu and kashmir elections, has been set for october 8. This change data-aligns with the rescheduled polling date and accommodates the Bishnoi community's festival observance.
Previous Adjustments by the EC
The ec has a history of adjusting election dates to respect various community sentiments and important religious observances. For example:
Punjab assembly election 2022: The election was postponed by a week to accommodate devotees traveling to varanasi for Guru Ravidas Jayanti.
Manipur assembly election 2022: The polling dates were changed to respect Christian community's sunday prayers.
Rajasthan assembly election 2023: The polling date was rescheduled to avoid conflict with Devuthani Ekadashi, a significant day for mass weddings in the region.
Uttar Pradesh assembly election 2012: The poll date was adjusted to accommodate Barawafat.
Impact of the Revised Schedule
The revised polling and counting dates are expected to ensure greater participation in the elections by accommodating the traditional practices of the Bishnoi community. This adjustment reflects the EC's commitment to respecting cultural and religious practices while conducting elections.
The change in dates will also help in managing the election logistics more effectively, providing a smoother process for voters and election officials alike. By respecting the community’s traditions, the ec aims to uphold democratic values and ensure that all eligible voters have the opportunity to participate in the electoral process.