Lagatar24 Desk
Chandigarh: Amid criticism from opposition parties, senior BJP leader Anil Vij has clarified his party’s stance on the request to postpone the Haryana Assembly elections scheduled for October 1. Vij, a former Haryana Home Minister, emphasized that the BJP is fully prepared to contest the elections, stating, “We are ready for elections. Our party is ready. Have it tomorrow.”
The BJP, which has governed Haryana for the past decade, recently faced backlash after requesting the Election Commission to defer the polls, citing concerns over voter turnout due to long holidays surrounding the election date. According to Vij, the party’s concern is that the holidays before and after October 1 could lead to a significant reduction in voter participation.
Explaining the rationale behind the request, Vij said, “The declared dates make it possible for people to take extended holidays, which reduces voter turnout. We are not just asking for an extension; we suggest moving the dates back by a few days to prevent a long holiday period.”
The BJP is not the only party to request a poll postponement. Abhay Chautala’s Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) has also sought a delay in the elections. If granted, this wouldn’t be unprecedented; a similar request was accepted in Punjab in 2022 when polling dates were adjusted to accommodate the birth anniversary celebrations of Sant Ravidas.
Despite the BJP’s explanation, the opposition has seized on the request as a sign of weakness. Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda, a former Chief Minister of Haryana, accused the BJP of “accepting defeat” by seeking a postponement. “Polls should be held according to the date fixed by the EC. People of Haryana don’t want to see the BJP government in power even for a day,” Hooda stated.
His son, Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda, echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the BJP’s request indicates fear of the upcoming elections. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is contesting all seats in Haryana, also criticized the BJP, with its leaders arguing that the request for postponement reflects poorly on the BJP’s track record in the state.
Varinder Garg, a member of the BJP’s state election management committee, reiterated the party’s concern over the potential impact of the holiday period on voter turnout. He noted that September 28-29 fall on a weekend, and with October 1 being a poll holiday, followed by Gandhi Jayanti and Maharaja Agrasen Jayanti on October 2 and 3 respectively, voters might be inclined to take an extended vacation.
Mohan Lal Badoli, BJP Haryana chief, in his letter to the Election Commission, pointed out that the long holiday period could lead to many families missing out on voting, which might “drastically affect the voting percentage.”
