Election Commission Defers Haryana Assembly Election; Know Why

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday deferred the Haryana Assembly election by four days.

Single-phase polling for the 90-member state assembly will now be held on October 5, instead of the earlier announced October 1.

Results for both Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir – which will vote in 3 phases — will be declared on October 8.

Once ECI had announced Haryana assembly election earlier this month, there had been requests from the BJP and others to alter the date as they felt voter turnout could be affected due to several holidays close to the original day of polling (October 1).

The commission ultimately acceded to those pleas.

“Subsequently, representations have been received from National Political Parties, State Political Party and All India Bishnoi Mahasabha regarding mass movement of people of Bishnoi community of Haryana to Rajasthan to participate in centuries old Asoj Amavasya festival celebration,” the poll panel said in a notification.

“It may deny voting rights to large number of people and may lead to reduce voters’ participation in general election to legislative assembly of Haryana,” ECI further stated to explain why it is pushing back the polling date.

In the 2019 Assembly election, BJP with 40 seats emerged as the single-largest party, and formed the government after forging a post-poll alliance with Jannayak Janta Party and 7 Independent MLAs.