New Delhi, Jan 17: Voting in Punjab has been postponed to February 20, the Election Commission said on Monday.
“Commission has received several representations from State Government, Political Parties and other organizations drawing attention regarding movement of a large number of devotees from Punjab to Varanasi for participation in Sri Guru Ravidas Ji Jayanti celebrations, which is observed on 16th February 2022. They have also brought to the notice that a large number of devotees start moving for Varanasi around a week before the day of celebration and keeping the poll day on 14th February 2022 will deprive large number of electors from voting,” the EC stated in its presser.
The Commission decided to postpone the polls, “after considering these new facts emerging out of these representations,” it said.
Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party will announce its chief ministerial face for Punjab on Tuesday, party chief Arvind Kejriwal said. The party had conducted a survey, asking people to choose a candidate.
In other news, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Monday questioned the FIR against him for violating Covid-19 norms during a door-to-door campaign in Noida’s Bahlopur district on Sunday. “Why was there no FIR against BJP’s election campaign in Amroha? The EC’s bias is visible at the beginning itself. I will again go to UP, what will we do if not campaign?” he said.
In Uttarakhand, former minister Harak Singh Rawat, who was expelled from the BJP for six years, on Monday said he will join Congress without any condition and work for its victory in the upcoming Assembly elections. Rawat also said the Congress party will form the government in Uttarakhand. The BJP cited indiscipline while expelling Rawat on Sunday.
