The Election Commission of India (ECI) has made significant changes to the election schedule for Haryana and Jammu Kashmir.
While the polling date for Haryana has been moved from October 1, 2024, to October 5, 2024, due to concerns about the Bishnoi community’s participation in the Asoj Amavasya festival, the counting date for Jammu Kashmir has also been revised.
Originally set for October 4, 2024, the counting of votes in Jammu Kashmir will now take place on October 8, 2024, to align with the new counting date for Haryana.
The ECI’s decision to change the poll date for Haryana came after representations from various political parties and the All India Bishnoi Mahasabha, who highlighted the potential impact on voter turnout due to the festival.
For Jammu Kashmir (Phase-III), aside from the change in the counting date, the election schedule remains unchanged. Polling will take place on October 1, 2024, as originally planned.
These revisions by the ECI aim to balance cultural practices with the need to maintain voter participation while ensuring a unified timeline for the counting of votes across both regions.