In the wake of Ravidas Jayanti near the elections dates of Punjab the EC has decided to postpone the elections by 6 days. The fresh date for polls is 20th February
Members of Guru Ravidas Tiger Force on Monday blocked the main highway at PAP Chowk here demanding delay in Punjab elections by a week in view of the Guru Ravidass Jayanti programme.
Following this the traffic on the national highway was disrupted.
The Election Commission met on Monday morning to discuss demands by various political parties to postpone the February 14 assembly polls in Punjab in view of Guru Ravidas Jayanti.
After the meeting, the EC has said,
After consideration of all facts made available, Election Commission has announced 2022 General Elections to the Legislative Assembly of State of Punjab on 8th January 2022 under which notification for the election is to be issued on 21st January 2022 and poll is to take place on 14th February 2022.
Commission has received several representations from State Government, Political Parties and other organizations drawing attention regarding movement of a large number of devotees from Punjab to Varanasi for participation in Sri Guru Ravidas Ji Jayanti celebrations, which is observed on 16th February 2022. They have also brought to the notice that a large number of devotees start moving for Varanasi around a week before the day of celebration and keeping the poll day on 14th February 2022 will deprive large number of electors from voting. In view of this, they have requested to shift the poll date few days after 16th February 2022. Commission has also taken inputs from State Government and Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab in this regard.
After considering these new facts emerging out of these representations, inputs from the State Government and Chief Electoral Officer, past precedence and all facts and circumstances in the matter, now Commission has decided to reschedule the General Elections to Legislative Assembly of Punjab in the following manner:
1. Date of Notification: 25th January 2022 (Tuesday)
2. Last date of Nomination: 1st February 2022 (Tuesday)
3. Date of Scrutiny: 2nd February 2022 (Wednesday)
4. Date of Withdrawal: 4th February 2022 (Friday)
5. Date of Poll: 20th February 2022 (Sunday).
Counting of Votes will be taken up on 10th March 2022 (Thursday).
Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi also had requested EC to defer the polls by six days in view of the Jayanti. Similar requests were also made by other parties, including the BJP and BSP to postpone the valentine’s day poll.