Haryana New Election Date: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday revised the polling date for the Haryana assembly election from October 1 to October 5, 2024. According to the poll body, the date has been revised 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. Meanwhile, the counting of the votes of both Jammu-Kashmir assembly polls and the Haryana election on October 8.

The Commission said it had received representation from National President, All India Bishnoi Mahasabha, Bikaner (Rajasthan), for rescheduling the date of polling set for October 1.

As per the representation for generations, numerous families in Punjab, Rajasthan, and Haryana have observed a long-standing tradition of visiting their native village, Mukam, in Rajasthan during the Amavas in the month of "Asoj" for their annual festival in Bikaner district, in the memory of their Guru Jambheshwar.

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.

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This year, the festival will take place on October 2, and thousands of Bishnoi families residing in Sirsa, Fatehabad, and Hisar would be travelling to Rajasthan on poll day, denying them their voting rights, the Election Commission of India said.

The poll body even in the past have adjusted the election dates to respect the sentiments of various communities. For instance, during the Punjab Assembly Elections in 2022, the polls were postponed by a week to accommodate devotees to travel to Varanasi for Guru Ravidas Jayanti.

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Similarly, in Manipur during the 2022 Assembly elections, the Commission changed the polling dates to respect the Christian community's Sunday prayers.

(With input from agencies)


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