The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday rescheduled the Haryana Assembly polls from October 1 to October 5, and moved the vote counting for both Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir to October 8. This adjustment honours the Bishnoi community’s traditional observance of the Asoj Amavasya festival, which celebrates Guru Jambheshwar and occurs on October 2. The festival, celebrated in their native village Mukam in Rajasthan, would have coincided with the original polling date, preventing many Bishnoi families in Sirsa, Fatehabad, and Hisar from voting, according to the poll body.
Therefore, polling in Jammu and Kashmir for its 90 seats will take place across three phases – September 18, 25 and October 1, while Haryana’s 90 seats will poll on October 5.
Haryana Assembly Election – Full Schedule
-Date of Issue of Gazette Notification: September 5
-Last date for nominations: September 12
-Date for scrutiny of nominations: September 13
-Last date for the withdrawal of candidatures: September 16
-Date of Poll: October 5 (earlier October 1)
-Date of Counting: October 8 (earlier October 4)
Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Election – Full Schedule
Date of Issue of Gazette Notification:
Phase 1: August 20
Phase 2: August 29
Phase 3: September 5
Last date for nominations:
Phase 1: August 27
Phase 2: September 5
Phase 3: September 12
Date for scrutiny of nominations:
Phase 1: August 28
Phase 2: September 6
Phase 3: September 13
Last date for the withdrawal of candidatures:
Phase 1: August 30
Phase 2: September 9
Phase 3: September 17
Date of Poll:
Phase 1: September 18
Phase 2: September 25
Phase 3: October 1
Date of Counting: October 8 (earlier October 4)