Counting Of Votes For Jammu-Kashmir, Haryana Assembly Elections Changed To Oct 8

New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana Assembly Elections results will now be declared on October 8, the Election Commission informed on Saturday. The development has taken place after the poll body changed the polling date for Haryana Assembly election to October 5, due to the Asoj Amavasya festival and request by the BJP unit of the state.

The saffron party had earlier appealed to the poll body to change the polling day in Haryana, which was originally due to be held on October 1, saying it was falling between weekend and other holidays, which could have resulted in a low voter turnout.

On Saturday, the Election Commission of India revised the polling day for Haryana from October 1 to October 5, 2024 and accordingly counting day for Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana Assembly elections from October 4 to October 8, 2024.

The decision has been taken to honour both the voting rights and the traditions of the Bishnoi community, which has upheld a centuries-old practice of participating in the Asoj Amavasya festival celebration in remembrance of their Guru Jambheshwar, election commission informed.

The EC had received a representation from the national president of All India Bishnoi Mahasabha, Bikaner, Rajasthan for rescheduling the date for the Haryana assembly elections.

He said generations of families from Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana visit their native village Mukam in Rajasthan on 'amavas' in the month of 'Asoj' for the annual festival in Bikaner in the memory of Guru Jambheshwar.

This year, the festival falls on October 2 and thousands of Bishnoi families residing in Sirsa, Fatehabad and Hisar will be travelling to Rajasthan on the day, denying them their voting rights.