NEW DELHI:ย The Election Commission on Monday made an announcement to defer Punjab assembly elections to February 20 instead of earlier schedule of February 14 in view of Sri Guru Ravidas Jayanti on February 16. The move is meant to ensure maximum participation of people in the voting process.
In a statement, the Election Commission said, “Afterย considerationย ofย allย factsย madeย available,ย Electionย Commissionย has announced 2022 General Electionsย to the Legislative Assembly of State of Punjab on January 8, 2022 underย which notification for the electionย isย toย beย issued on 21st January, 2022 and poll is to take place on 14th February, 2022.”
After considering facts emerging out of representations, inputs from State Government and CEO, past precedence &all circumstances in the matter,ECI has decided to reschedule the General Elections to Legislative Assembly of Punjab:Poll on 20th February 2022 https://t.co/ZOkqTSH8Vb
— Spokesperson ECI (@SpokespersonECI) January 17, 2022
It said that Commission receivedย several representations from Stateย government, political parties and otherย organisations drawing attentionย regarding movement of a large numberย ofย devotees from Punjab to Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi for participation inย Sri Guru Ravidasji Jayanti celebrations,ย which is observed on February 16, 2022.
“They 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 February 14 will deprive large number of electors from voting.
“In view of this, they have requested toย shift the poll date few days after February 16. Commission has also taken inputs from state government and Chief Electoral Officer Punjab in this regard,” it said.
The Commission said, “Afterย considering these new facts emerging out of these representations, inputs from the state government and Chiefย Electoral Officer, past precedence factsย and circumstances in the matter, now Commission has decided to reschedule the General Elections to Legislative Assembly of Punjab.”
The Commission said that notification will be issued on January 25, whileย last date of nomination is February 1, date of scrutiny is February 2.
The panel said that date of withdrawal of nomination is February 4 and date of poll is February 20 while the countingย ofย votes will be taken up on March 10.
