Election Commission reschedules Punjab assembly elections, voting to be held on February 20 now

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Monday shifted the polling date for Punjab assembly election to February 20 from February 14, in view of requests received from several political parties and the state government to defer polling by a few days in view of Guru Ravidas Jayanti on February 16.
As per the new schedule, January 25 will be the date for poll notification, February 1 last date of filing nominations, February 2 date of scrutiny of nominations, February 2 last date for withdrawal, and February 20 date of poll. Counting date remains unchanged at March 10.
Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, BSP and subsequently the BJP, Shiromani Akali Dal and Punjab Lok Congress had approached the EC seeking postponement of the original February 14 polling date in Punjab, citing the expected movement of many electors who are Guru Ravidas's followers and travel from Punjab to Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh during the week coinciding with Gurupurab. Stating that a large number of voters usually leave for Varanasi a week before Ravidas Jayanti and would therefore miss out on voting were the polls held on February 14, they pleaded with EC to consider postponing the polling day in Punjab by at least six days, by when Guru Ravidas's followers would be back.

"After considering these new facts emerging out of these representations, inputs from the state government and chief electoral officer, past precedence and all facts and circumstances in the matter, now Commission has decided to reschedule the general elections to legislative assembly of Punjab," EC stated while shifting polling in Punjab to February 20.
Sources told TOI that EC had originally chosen February 14 as the polling date for Punjab after taking into account all festivals, examinations, weather and agricultural schedules etc. It had also considered Guru Ravidas Jayanti while preparing the schedule and decided to schedule the polls ahead of the festival.
According to Punjab BJP general secretary, Punjab has a substantial population of followers of Guru Ravidas, many of whom belong to the Scheduled Castes that make up 32% of the state's population.
Detailed coverage