Week After ECI Announcement, BJP Seeks Change In Haryana Election Date; Know Why

New Delhi: A week after the Election Commission of India (ECI) had on August 16 announced election schedule for Haryana Assembly, the BJP has sought a change in date.

ECI fixed October 1 as polling day in Haryana, but BJP chief Mohan Lal Badauli has written to the commission pointing out holidays before and after, and asked for a revised date.

In his letter to ECI, Badauli said people tend to go on vacation in the week before and after October 1, which could impact voter turnout.

“We have reasoned that the Assembly election date of October 1 is preceded by holiday on 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,” said Varinder Garg, a member of BJP’s state election management committee.

“Saturday (September 28) is a holiday for many, followed by Sunday. October 1 (Tuesday) is a poll holiday in the state which is followed by Gandhi Jayanti holiday on October 2. October 3 is also a holiday on account of Maharaja Agrasen Jayanti,” Garg specified.

The Congress took a dig at BJP following its request, with former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda saying that the saffron party has already accepted defeat.

BJP’s request, via email, has been received by the state’s chief electoral officer Pankaj Agarwal and forwarded to the ECI.