New Delhi: The BJP’s Punjab unit has written to Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra requesting for “postponement” of the state assembly elections on account of Guru Ravidas Jayanti on February 16.
“The state of Punjab has the substantial population of followers of Guru Ravi Das Ji including the Scheduled Caste Community which is about 32% population of Punjab. On this pious occasion, millions of their devotees would visit Banaras in Uttar Pradesh to celebrate the Gurupurb. So, it would not be possible for them to participate in the voting process,” said the letter written by Subhash Sharma, state general secretary, BJP, Punjab, ANI reported.
“It is therefore requested to your goodself that date of voting may be postponed so that these voters of Punjab could participate in the election process. I am sure that you would consider our demand and do the needful,” the BJP leader added.
Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt) chief Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa has also in a letter to the poll panel sought that the voting date be postponed.
Earlier on Thursday, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi had urged the Election Commission to postpone the polling date by six days for enabling around 20 lakh SC devotees to utilise their right to vote for the state legislative assembly.
He said a large number of SC devotees from Punjab are likely to visit Banaras in Uttar Pradesh from February 10 to 16.
In such a situation, many people from this community would not be able to cast their votes for the state assembly, added Channi, who belongs to the SC community, PTI reported.
Bahujan Samaj Party’s Punjab chief Jasvir Singh Garhi was the first to demand postponement of the polling requesting the poll body to hold the elections on February 20.
Voting for the Punjab Assembly will be held in a single phase on February 14. The results will be declared on March 10.