Why EC Decided To Postpone Poll Dates in Haryana To October 5 In View Of Asoj Amavasya | Explained

Chandigarh: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday announced that the polling date for the Haryana Assembly elections has been postponed from October 1 to October 5, 2024, and subsequently, revised the day for the counting of votes for both the Haryana Assembly elections and the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections on October 8. The ECI’s move has come up to respect cultural traditions in view of the Asoj Amavasya festival and ensure higher voter participation in the upcoming assembly elections in Haryana.

The decision has been widely welcomed by the people in Haryana. The population of the Bishnoi community is around 15 lakh across the country and are mostly present in Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana. Importantly, the Bishnoi community is termed as a decisive factor during the elections on several seats in Haryana.

As the date for the Assembly elections result for both Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir has been extended to October 8, let us know why the Election Commission of India decided to shift the date for polling in Haryana and what is the significance of the Asoj Amavasya in the state.

Why Voting In Haryana On October 1 Postponed

The Election Commission cited representations from national and state political parties, as well as the All India Bishnoi Mahasabha, saying a large number of people from the Bishnoi community in Haryana will be in Rajasthan to participate in the centuries-old Asoj Amavasya festival celebration.

“It may deny voting rights to a large number of people and may lead to reduced voters’ participation in the general election to the legislative assembly of Haryana,” the release noted.

The Haryana unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had earlier written to the Election Commission requesting to postpone the polling for assembly elections. In a letter dated August 22, BJP Haryana chief Mohanlal Badoli outlined concerns that the polling date would coincide with an extended holiday period, including the weekend of September 28-29 and Gandhi Jayanti on October 2.

Mohanlal Badoli argued that this extended break could lead to a decrease in voter turnout as many residents might be away or on vacation.

The BJP also pointed out that the Bishnoi community, which forms a significant voter base in Haryana, would likely be absent on October 1 due to their annual pilgrimage to Mukam village in Rajasthan.

He had urged the Election Commission to consider rescheduling the polls to a later date to ensure maximum voter turnout, citing past instances where election dates had been changed for similar reasons.

Asoj Amavasya And Its Significance For Bishnoi Community

All India Bishnoi Mahasabha had requested the Election Commission of India stating that for generations numerous families in Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana have observed a long-standing tradition of visiting their native village Mukam, in Rajasthan during the Amavas in the month of “Asoj” for their annual festival in Bikaner district, in the memory of their Guru Jambheshwar.

The Bishnoi community has the centuries-old practice of observing the Asoj Amavasya festival, which is celebrated in memory of their revered Guru Jambheshwar.

Amavasya is of great religious significance in Hinduism. It is considered a perfect time in remembering the ancestors and departed souls of the family and worshipping them. It is believed that the day when Moonlight is absent, the sunlight reaches them. There is also a belief that on this day, the departed forefathers come down to the earth and visit their children and descendants.

The ECI said that this year, the festival will take place on October 2 and thousands of Bishnoi families residing in Sirsa, Fatehabad and Hisar will be travelling to Rajasthan on poll day, denying them their voting rights.

Almost a week after the announcement of the schedule for the Assembly election in Haryana, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the Indian National Lok Dal had written to the Election Commission (EC) of India to defer the polling by almost a week, apprehending low turnout given a host of holidays around the polling date.

The Congress and the Jannayak Janta Party, however, have demanded that the election be held as per the schedule saying that the BJP had already accepted its defeat by seeking postponement of the polls.