The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday postponed the Punjab Assembly Elections from February 14 to 20.
In a press statement, the ECI said it had rescheduled the polling for the state election.
The development took place after the State government and several political parties, including Congress, BJP, and Capt. Amarinder Singh’s Punjab Lok Congress raised worries that several people would advance toward Varanasi to observe Guru Ravidas’s birth anniversary between February 10 to 16.
Punjab Election Polling Date
Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi had kept in touch with the ECI, requesting the election date to be moved, as an enormous number of the people would go to Varanasi to observe Guru Ravidas Jayanti.
The Punjab unit of the BJP also had raised the issue & requested for the poll date to be postponed to a later date.
They also argued that people began going to Varanasi seven days before the festival and holding the election on February 14 would deny them the opportunity to cast their votes.
The date of notification will be on January 25, while the last date for nomination will be on February 2. The ECI will scrutinize the nominations on February 2. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is February 4.
Counting of the votes will be held on March 10.
The press note released by the Election Commission of India said “Commission has received several representations from State Government, Political Parties and other organizations drawing attention regarding movement of a large number of devotees from Punjab to Varanasi for participation in Sri Guru Ravidas Ji Jayanti celebrations, which is observed on 16th February 2022. They have also brought to the notice that a large number of devotees start moving for Varanasi around a week before the day of celebration and keeping the poll day on 14th February 2022 will deprive large number of electors from voting. In view of this, they have requested to shift the poll date few days after 16th February 2022. Commission has also taken inputs from State Government and Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab in this regard.”
Later, the Chief Minister of the State thanked the Election Commission of India for the decision.
The Congress party state chief Navjot Singh Sidhu said that the ECI has listened to the voice of the people.
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