Haryana Assembly Elections Postponed
The Election Commission of India has officially postponed the 2024 Haryana Assembly elections to October 5. Originally scheduled for October 1, the decision comes after concerns were raised by political parties and the All India Bishnoi Mahasabha about the Asoj Amavasya festival in Rajasthan, which involves a large movement of the Bishnoi community from Haryana. It was feared that the festival’s timing could significantly impact voter turnout.
The Election Commission, considering the importance of ensuring maximum voter participation, decided to shift the election date in Haryana. Meanwhile, the polling schedule for Jammu and Kashmir remains unchanged. The counting of votes for both states will take place on October 8, 2024.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar earlier confirmed that over 2 crore voters in Haryana will cast their ballots across 20,629 polling stations, including 7,132 urban and 13,497 rural locations. The Haryana Assembly comprises 90 seats, 73 of which are for General candidates and 17 reserved for Scheduled Castes. Notably, more than 10,000 centenarian voters are expected to participate in the electoral process, with special polling booths set up in urban centres such as Gurugram, Sonepat, and Faridabad.
The BJP, led by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, will run for all 90 seats, while the Haryana Congress has confirmed it will not align with the AAP. Meanwhile, Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), a former constituent of BJP led government in Haryana, has aligned with Azad Samaj Party (Kanshiram) of Chandrasekhar Azad, as the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) has announced an alliance with the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
The revised schedule is expected to ensure a smooth and inclusive election process in Haryana, with the final election results being announced on 8th October. The election process will be completed by 10th October, 2024.
