Chandigarh: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced changes to the polling schedule for the Haryana Assembly elections and the counting of votes for both Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana Assemblies. Originally set for October 1, the polling day in Haryana has been moved to October 5. Additionally, the vote counting for both regions, initially planned for October 4, will now occur on October 8.
This decision was made to respect the voting rights and traditions of the Bishnoi community. The Bishnoi community observes the Asoj Amavasya festival to honor their Guru Jambheshwar, with celebrations taking place in their native village Mukam in Rajasthan. The festival, which falls on October 2 this year, leads many Bishnoi families from Sirsa, Fatehabad, and Hisar to travel to Rajasthan, potentially preventing them from voting on the original polling date.
The ECI received a request from the National President of the All India Bishnoi Mahasabha, Bikaner, seeking the rescheduling of the polling date. This adjustment ensures that the Bishnoi community members can exercise their voting rights while participating in their traditional festival.
In the past, the Commission has similarly adjusted election dates to accommodate various community traditions. For instance, the Punjab Assembly Elections in 2022 were postponed by a week to allow devotees to travel to Varanasi for Guru Ravidas Jayanti. The 2022 Manipur Assembly elections saw a date change to respect Christian Sunday prayers, and the Rajasthan Assembly elections in 2023 were rescheduled to avoid clashing with Devuthani Ekadashi, a significant day for mass weddings in Rajasthan. Similarly, the Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections in 2012 were adjusted to accommodate Barawafat.
The revised polling date will also address concerns about a potential six-day holiday, allowing voters to take just one day off on September 30, 2024.
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