Punjab elections postponed after political parties raise concern
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in
Election commission of India has postponed the election date in Punjab by a week. Now the elections will be held on February 20,2022. The new dates for nomination filling, withdrawal will be revised.
The commission met today morning to discuss demands by various political parties to defer the February 14 assembly polls in view of Guru Ravidas Jayanti.
Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi had urged the EC to defer the polls by six days in view of the Jayanti, which is on February 16.
Other political parties like BJP, BSP and Punjab Lok Congress of Amarinder Singh too made similar requests to postpone the single-phase poll.
Punjab elections postponed after political parties raise concern. 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 BJP too endorses Punjab CM’s call to postpone Punjab elections
January 17,2022
