New Delhi: Haryana assembly polls have been postponed from October 1 to October 5. Along with this, the counting of votes in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana has been postponed from October 4 to October 8. The Election Commission has accepted the demand of the Bishnoi community for the change in the election dates. The Bishnoi community had demanded that the polling date be changed in view of the centuries-old Asoj Amavasi festival held in memory of Guru Jambheshwar. The Haryana BJP leadership also approached the commission pointing out that holidays before and after October 1 would affect the polling percentage.
Asoj Amavasi falls on October 2 this year. Bishnoi family members from various states like Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana will visit the place they believe to be their birthplace in Rajasthan on this day.
The All India Bishnoi Mahasabha had pointed out that the community members would not be able to participate if the polls were held in the days following the visit to commemorate Guru Jambheshwar. Places like Sirsa, Hisar and Fatehabad in Haryana are the strongholds of the Bishnoi sect.
