New Delhi: The Punjab unit of the BJP has written to Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra requesting him to “postpone” the state assembly elections on February 16 on account of Guru Ravidas Jayanti.
“The state of Punjab has a substantial population of followers of Guru Ravi Das ji including the Scheduled Caste community, which is about 32% of the population of Punjab. On this holy occasion, lakhs of his devotees will visit Banaras in Uttar Pradesh to celebrate Guruparb. Therefore, it will not be possible for them to participate in the voting process,” said Subhash Sharma, state general secretary, BJP, Punjab, in the letter written by ANI.
“Therefore you are requested to postpone the date of polling so that these voters of Punjab can participate in the election process. I am sure you will consider our demand and take necessary action.
Shiromani Akali Dal (United) chief Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa has also written to the Election Commission demanding postponement of the date of polling.
Earlier on Thursday, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi urged the Election Commission to postpone the polling date by six days to enable around 20 lakh SC devotees to exercise their right to vote for the state assembly. did.
He said that a large number of scheduled caste pilgrims from Punjab are likely to come to Banaras in Uttar Pradesh from February 10 to 16.
In such a situation, many people from this community will not be able to cast their vote for the state assembly, said Channi, who hails from the Scheduled Caste community, PTI reported.
Bahujan Samaj Party’s Punjab chief Jasvir Singh Garhi had first demanded the postponement of polling while requesting for the elections to be held on February 20.
Polling for the Punjab Assembly will be held in a single phase on February 14. The results will be declared on March 10.
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