CHANDIGARH: Citing holidays before and after the Haryana assembly polls on October 1 which could lead to lower voter turnout, the Haryana unit of the BJP has written to the Election Commission of India requesting a brief postponement of the assembly polls. The Indian National Lok Dal too has demanded the postponement.
This has triggered a political controversy with the main opposition Congress alleging that the BJP was trying to delay the elections in the face of public anger to ouster the government. BJP sources said party’s state unit chief Mohan Lal Badoli’s letter to the state EC was sent on Friday. State EC chief Pankaj Agarwal acknowledged his letter, saying it has been referred to the ECI.
In the 2019 assembly elections which were held on October 21, the voter turnout was a little over 68%. The BJP had a vote share of 36.5%, Congress 28.1%, JJP 14.8% and others 2.4%. In the 2014 assembly polls, the turnout was 76.6%. The BJP had a vote share of 33.3%, Congress 20.7% and INLD 24.2%. Varinder Garg, BJP’s member of the state election management committee said, “We have reasoned that assembly election date of October 1 is preceded by holiday on weekend and followed by some more holidays which may hit the voting percentage as people tend to go on a long vacation. For a better turnout, any new date after a string of holidays is over should be fine.”
September 28 being a Saturday is a holiday for many, while Sunday is also a holiday. On October 1, it is a poll holiday, which is followed by Gandhi Jayanti on October 2 and October 3 is also a holiday on account of Maharaja Agrasen Jayanti.
“By taking leave on September 30, people would be able to enjoy a six-day break. This might affect the voting percentage in the poll-bound Haryana,’’ said Garg.