‘BJP Can Change Polling Date Using ECI, But…’: Oppn On Haryana Poll Postponement As Saffron Party Welcomes Move

Following EC's decision to postpone Haryana Assembly polls, the opposition leaders of the AAP and Congress took a jibe at the BJP saying it was "scared" and that it will not win the elections.

AAP senior leader Manish Sisodia hit out at BJP after Election Commission revised the Haryana Assembly poll date.

Source : PTI

The Election Commission of India on Saturday rescheduled the Haryana Assembly poll date from October 1 to October 5. The counting of votes for both Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir will be held on October 8, instead of October 4. Following this, the BJP leaders thanked the poll body for its decision, which was taken due to the poll dates overlapping with a centuries-old festival of the Bishnoi community. However, the opposition seemed unhappy with the revised poll schedule and declared that the BJP was "scared" and had accepted its defeat.

Former Haryana Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda said: "It is the Election Commission's right, they have extended the date. They (BJP) have already accepted defeat in Haryana. When the Haryana government wrote a letter to the Election Commission, I had said at that time that the BJP had accepted defeat."

#WATCH | On Election Commission's decision to extend Haryana assembly election date from October 1 to October 5, former Haryana CM and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda says, "It is the Election Commission's right, they have extended the date. They (BJP) have already accepted… pic.twitter.com/ADhr1VVrtS

— ANI (@ANI) August 31, 2024

Claiming that the BJP will lose the Assembly polls in Haryana, senior Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia said: "Following the conclusion of Lok Sabha elections, BJP's countdown has begun. They can change the polling dates using the ECI, but they will surely lose Assembly polls in Haryana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Delhi."

VIDEO | "Following the conclusion of Lok Sabha elections, BJP's countdown has begun. They can change the polling dates using the ECI, but they will surely lose Assembly polls in Haryana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Delhi," says AAP leader Manish Sisodia on Election Commission… pic.twitter.com/D1NUOtIbHl

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 31, 2024

Congress MP Kumari Selja also claimed that BJP will not win the Haryana Assembly polls. "What can we say about the Election Commission? ... They (BJP) could not win the race in 10 years, so what will happen in 5 days? Congress is ready and we will try to win all the seats. Congress is eyeing all 90 seats and will work hard to win all the seats," she said. The Congress leader also said that BJP is "scared" and wrote the letter to the EC since it was "nervous".

#WATCH | On Election Commission's decision to extend Haryana assembly election date from October 1 to October 5, Congress MP Kumari Selja says, "What can we say about the Election Commission? ... They (BJP) could not win the race in 10 years, so what will happen in 5 days?… pic.twitter.com/w4t5Qk3pta

— ANI (@ANI) August 31, 2024

Meanwhile, J&K Congress President Tariq Hameed Karra called the poll body's decision to change dates "suspicious". "Did the Election Commission not know at that time that there was a festival? They announce the final date after considering everything. They are making the elections suspicious," he remarked.

#WATCH | On Election Commission changed counting day for J&K and Haryana Assembly elections from October 4 to October 8, J&K Congress President Tariq Hameed Karra says, "...Did the Election Commission not know at that time that there was a festival? They announce the final date… pic.twitter.com/JUdl8XYmiJ

— ANI (@ANI) August 31, 2024

What BJP Leaders Said On EC's Decision To Push Poll Dates In Haryana

The Election Commission revised the poll dates in Haryana after BJP chief Mohan Lal Badoli wrote a letter to the poll body, citing holidays in the week before and after October 1, which might lower the voter turnout. Besides, EC stated that it had also received "Representations 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", which would make it difficult for them to caste ballots.

BJP MP Biplab Kumar Deb said: "...It is the duty of the Election Commission. At that time the main festival of the Bishnoi community takes place, so the Election Commission wants maximum voting in the elections and we welcome it... We have worked honestly in the state and the people will decide who will win..."

#WATCH | On Election Commission's decision to extend Haryana assembly election date from October 1 to October 5, BJP MP Biplab Kumar Deb says, "...It is the duty of the Election Commission. At that time the main festival of the Bishnoi community takes place, so the Election… pic.twitter.com/ijDqOBDOBH

— ANI (@ANI) August 31, 2024

"We are thankful to the Election Commission, they took action on our application and changed the dates. We intended that on the earlier (election) dates, people would have got 5 holidays and there would have been chances people go for holidays or urgent work and this could have led to a decrease in the vote percentage...Congress keep saying things without any reason"

#WATCH | On Election Commission's decision to extend Haryana assembly election date from October 1 to October 5, BJP leader Anil Vij says, " We are thankful to the Election Commission, they took action on our application and changed the dates. We intended that on the earlier… pic.twitter.com/nEUaiCYHnJ

— ANI (@ANI) August 31, 2024