New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday (August 31) announced that the Haryana assembly election has been postponed to October 5 from October 1. The election results for both Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana will be declared on October 8, instead of October 4, the ECI added.

"Representations have been received from National Political Parties, State Political Party and All India Bishnoi Mahasabha regarding mass movement of people of Bishnoi community of Haryana to Rajasthan to participate in centuries old Asoj Amavasya festival celebration. It may deny voting rights to large number of people and may lead to reduce voters’ participation in general election to legislative assembly of Haryana," the ECI said in a press release. 

The ECI added: "The commission, having considered these representations, has decided to change the date of poll only for Haryana from 1st October, 2024 (Tuesday) to 5th October, 2024 (Saturday)." 

Notably, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) had written to the commission to postpone the Haryana polls by a week, citing concerns of low voter turnout due to multiple holidays around the original polling date. However, the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had opposed the move, which they saw as a sign of the saffron party's anticipated defeat.

The date for the Jammu and Kashmir elections remains the same, October 1.

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