Polling Date Changed for Haryana Assembly Elections to Honor Bishnoi Community Traditions
New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced a change in the polling date for the Haryana Assembly elections, shifting it from October 1 to October 5. Additionally, the counting date for the Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana Assembly elections has been postponed from October 4 to October 8.
According to the ECI, this decision was taken to respect the voting rights and traditions of the Bishnoi community, which gathers every year to participate in the Asauj Amavasya festival in memory of their Guru Jambheshwar. This tradition, which holds special significance for the community, has been celebrated for centuries.
The ECI stated that the change in the polling date was necessary to ensure that the community could fulfill their religious obligations while also exercising their democratic right to vote. This decision will allow the Bishnoi community to participate fully in both their religious celebrations and the electoral process.
Following the changes, political parties and candidates will need to adjust their election strategies. The delay in the counting date will also mean that candidates and voters will have to wait a few extra days for the results.
Several leaders have praised the ECI’s decision, calling it a sign of sensitivity towards community traditions. The ECI has also appealed to all parties to respect the revised schedule and cooperate with the election process.
Respecting Community Traditions in Past Elections
In the past, the ECI has adjusted election dates to honor the sentiments of various communities. For instance, during the Punjab Assembly elections in 2022, the Commission postponed the polls by a week to accommodate devotees traveling to Varanasi for Guru Ravidas Jayanti. Similarly, in the 2022 Manipur Assembly elections, the ECI rescheduled polling dates to respect the Christian community’s Sunday prayer.
In 2023, during the Rajasthan Assembly elections, the ECI rescheduled the voting day, originally set on Devuthani Ekadashi, a significant day for mass marriages in the state. In the 2012 UP Assembly elections, the polling date was changed due to Barawafat. Incidentally, the rescheduled polling day on September 30, 2024, also addresses concerns about a potential six-day holiday period, starting with a one-day leave.
Mixed Reactions from Political Leaders
Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda stated that it is the Election Commission’s prerogative to change dates, adding, “They (BJP) have already accepted defeat in Haryana. When the Haryana government wrote to the Election Commission, I said that the BJP had admitted defeat.”
Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary emphasized the non-partisan nature of the decision, saying, “These decisions are made by the Election Commission, which has its own institutional credibility. I believe all parties should respect this decision. There must be a solid reason behind it, and a four-day delay should not harm any political party’s prospects.”
However, Congress leader Deepak Babaria criticized the decision, stating, “The way they have governed for the past 10 years—with authoritarianism—they have now changed the dates similarly. The Chief Minister says one thing, the state president says another… In the process, they have disrupted the entire administration, the voters, and the election schedule.”
Congress leader Manickam Tagore echoed this sentiment, saying, “Not only are the ED and CBI working for the BJP, but now the Election Commission has also started functioning in their favor. It is unfortunate that the Commission postponed the dates due to political pressure, showing that the BJP fears losing in Haryana. This is why they delayed the results by five days… Congress will form the government in Haryana, and the BJP will be wiped out in the eyes of the people.”
