Punjab Assembly elections to now be held on February 20

Several political parties had approached the EC to postpone the polls in the state in view of Ravidas Jayanti on February 16

The Election Commission on Monday decided to hold polling for the assembly elections in Punjab on February 20 instead of February 14 – accepting the demand of the political parties in the state.

The EC deferred polling in Punjab after the ruling Congress as well as the opposition Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) urged it to do so, in view of the Guru Ravidas Jayanti to be celebrated on February 16.

The commission on January 8 had last announced the poll-schedule of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur. It had scheduled the polling in all the 117 assembly constituencies in Punjab on February 14.

Also read: BJP may win UP, Uttarakhand, Manipur; hung house in Goa, Punjab, says Survey

But the political parties pointed out that many devotees of Guru Ravidas would visit the birthplace of the 15th century poet-saint at Varanasi in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh ahead of his birth-anniversary and might miss the opportunity to cast votes if the polling was held on February 14. They urged the EC to reschedule the polling.

“They (political parties) have also 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 14th February 2022 will deprive a large number of electors from voting,” the EC stated on Monday. “In view of this,” it added, “they have requested to shift the poll date a few days after 16th February 2022. (The) Commission has also taken inputs from State Government and Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab in this regard”.

The EC stated that it decided to reschedule polling in Punjab after considering the new facts emerging out of the representations of the political parties, inputs from the State Government and the Chief Electoral Officer, past precedence and all facts and circumstances in the matter.

The commission’s decision was welcomed by the political parties in Punjab.

“When a huge number of people make a demand which is related to their religion and the Election Commission of India listens to them, it becomes a decision that respects and honours the voice of the people," Navjot Singh Sidhu, the president of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), said.

The EC will issue the notification for assembly elections in Punjab on January 25. It set February 1 as the last date for filing nominations and February 2 as the date of scrutiny. The last date for withdrawal of nomination has been set as February 4.

“Today, (the) EC has postponed the Punjab polls to February 20. All the parties in Punjab requested the commission to postpone the polls here because many people from the SC community from the state are likely to visit Varanasi in view of Guru Ravidas birth anniversary on February 16," the SAD chief, Sukhbir Singh Badal, said.

“We are thankful that they understood the sentiments of people and considered our request," BJP leader Anil Sarin said.

“This (rescheduling) will facilitate devotees' pilgrimage to Kashi and they can vote after coming back,” former Chief Minister and leader of Punjab Loktantrik Congress, Amrinder Singh, said.

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