The BJP cited holidays before and after the election date that could potentially lead to lower voter turnout. This request has been formally communicated by the party’s state unit chief.
Haryana’s Chief Electoral Officer Pankaj Agarwal confirmed receiving the communication from the state BJP and mentioned that it has been forwarded to the Election Commission.
“We have received the communication from state BJP and forwarded it to the Election Commission,” Agarwal stated.
Varinder Garg, a member of the BJP’s state election management committee, explained the reasoning behind the request.
“We have reasoned that the Assembly election date of October 1 is preceded by a holiday on the weekend and followed by some holidays, which may hit the voting percentage as people tend to go on vacation on long weekends that are followed by holidays,” said Garg.
“We have written to the Election Commission in this regard. For a better turnout, any new date once the string of holidays is over should be fine,” he added.
Garg elaborated on the sequence of holidays, stating, “Saturday (September 28) is a holiday for many, while Sunday is a holiday. October 1 is a poll holiday in the state which is followed by Gandhi Jayanti on October 2, which is a holiday, and October 3 is also a holiday on account of Maharaja Agrasen Jayanti.”
BJP is nervous: Congress
In response, the Congress dismissed the BJP’s concerns, interpreting them as a sign of the ruling party’s nervousness ahead of the elections. Congress MP Deepinder Hooda criticised the BJP’s arguments.
“Seeing its defeat in front, the ruling party is giving childish arguments. Because it has no issue, no work or achievement to tell the public and no 90 candidates to give tickets to. That is why BJP is conspiring to postpone the elections by making an excuse of holidays,” Hooda posted on social media platform X.
“Voters of Haryana are very aware. They will not go anywhere for a holiday, but will come to the polling booth in large numbers to vote for the BJP,” he added.
The Election Commission had earlier announced on August 16 that the Assembly polls in Haryana would be held in a single phase on October 1, with results to be declared on October 4. The BJP is eyeing a third consecutive term, while the Congress aims to wrest power from the ruling party.
The current tenure of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha is set to end on November 3.