India: BJP urges top poll body to change Haryana election dates, Congress reacts

Ahead of the assembly polls in the northern Indian state of Haryana, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to amend the election schedule, citing holidays.

Haryana BJP chief Mohan Lal Badoli wrote a letter to the ECI, saying people may go on vacation in the week before and after October 1, which might impact voter turnout.

The ECI earlier declared that polls will be held in Haryana on October 1 and the results will be out on October 4.

The BJP has now asked the ECI to fix a new date.

"We have reasoned that the Assembly election date of October 1 is preceded by holiday on weekend and followed by some holidays which may hit the voting percentage as people tend to go on vacation on long weekends which are followed by holidays," said Varinder Garg, a member of the BJP's state election management committee.

"Saturday (September 28) is a holiday for many, while Sunday is a holiday. October 1 is a poll holiday in the state which is followed by Gandhi Jayanti on October 2, which is a holiday and October 3 is also a holiday on account of Maharaja Agrasen Jayanti," he said.

An official from the ECI said they have received the BJP’s letter.

Row erupts

Congress party, which currently sits in opposition, slammed the ruling BJP, saying it had already accepted “defeat” by making the request.

"Elections have been declared and it has been more than a week since it was declared. This means that they want to postpone the election. They are accepting defeat and we want the Election Commission to hold the election on time because people do not want the government to remain in power for even a day," said senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

The BJP is looking to register a victory in the state for a third consecutive term, under the leadership of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. However, opinion polls show it might face tough competition from Congress as the opposition hopes to capitalise upon anti-incumbency and anger over schemes like Agnipath Yojana.

(With inputs from agencies)