BJP DEMANDS POSTPONEMENT OF HARYANA ELECTIONS: Know the reason and the opposition’s reaction?

On the 16^th of August, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar along with other Election Commissioners, Gyanesh Kumar and Dr. Sandhu address the media at Vigyan Bhawan and announced assembly polls in the state of Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir. While India’s northernmost, terror-stricken state will go to polls in 3 phases, Haryana will vote on a single day, where the BJP is eyeing a third consecutive term while the Congress hopes to come to power after its good show in the Lok Sabha elections in May. The polls have been scheduled to Tuesday, October 1, with results expected three days later,

However now the state unit of the BJP has demanded a change in poll dates. The state president, Mohan Lal Badoli, confirmed that the party has approached the Election Commission to delay polling by a few days, although the final decision rests with the poll body.

The party fears that a long weekend will result in low voter turnout. 1^st October is a Tuesday and everyone has a Sunday (29^th September) off, and some are off work on Saturdays too. Also, just a day after polls, the 2^nd of October, is a national holiday owing to Gandhi Jayanti. 3^rd October is also a public holiday in the state due to Agrasen Jayanti. So, the party has argued that anybody who takes a Monday off could get 6 days of holiday, adversely impacting voting. It has been noted in the past that people often use such breaks for leisure or travel, and miss their crucial franchise.

Haryana assembly speaker Gian Chand Gupta also argued that a low-voter turnout is not good for a democracy and therefore the party has made such a request.

Some sources in the BJP have stated that a low-voter turnout will harm their poll prospects, as was seen even during the General Elections a few months back. Apart from the gazetted holidays and weekends, the party also fears that an annual function of the Bishnoi community on 2 October, when members of the community visit Rajasthan, will impact them.

The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) has also made a similar demand to the Election Commission citing that it is likely that the polling sees a 15 to 20% dip along with an impact on the preparation of the election, including training of staff.

The main opposition party in the state, the Congress, has hit back at the ruling BJP. They have alleged that this shows that the BJP has accepted defeat and is trying to divert issues. As per Deependra Hooda, the party has no problem with the already announced dates and all parties have started their preparation accordingly. He also asserted that the people of Haryana want to see the BJP out of power and will cast their votes to oust them.

As per sources, the Chief Electoral Officer, Haryana, has confirmed to have received Badoli’s request but the final decision rests with the Election Commission.