New Delhi (IANS): The Election Commission of India on Monday put off the Punjab Assembly polls due to Sri Guru Ravidas Jayanti celebrations.
After a detailed meeting on the rescheduling of the poll date, the Commission changed the poll schedule as announced by it on January 8.
According to the new schedule for Punjab assembly polls, now the date of notification will be January 25, the last date of nomination is February 1, the date of scrutiny is February 2, the last date for withdrawal is February 4 and the date of polling is February 20. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.
The Election Commission received several representations from the state government, political parties and organizations regarding a large number of devotees expected to head to Varanasi from Punjab for participation in the Sri Guru Ravidas Ji Jayanti celebrations, which is observed on February 16.
It was brought to the notice of the Commission that a large number of devotees start moving for Varanasi around a week before the day of celebration and keeping the poll day on February 14 will deprive a large number of electors from voting. In view of this, they had requested to shift the poll date a few days after February 16, EC officials said.
The EC said that after taking inputs from the state government and the Chief Electoral Officer of Punjab in this regard and considering past precedence and all the facts and circumstances in the matter, it decided to reschedule the General Elections to the Legislative Assembly of Punjab.
Earlier, the ruling Congress Party, the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party had requested the Commission to defer the polling on February 14 as it is close to Sri Guru Ravidas Jayanti on February 16. In a written request on January 13, the Congress Party said that over 2 million Schedule Caste voters visit places related to Sant Ravidas ji. The party noted that a sizable number of SC voters visit Varanasi from February 10 to 16 every year and, therefore, the scheduled date for the poll in Punjab should be postponed.
Later, the BJP and Aam Aadmi party also made a similar request to the EC.
