Why Punjab Election Shifted ?

(The Quiver) The Election Commission of India on Monday postponed the date of polling in Punjab by six days. The Assembly elections in the northern state will now be held on February 20 and the results will be declared on March 10. The poll date shifted after political parties requested the poll panel to slot it until after the festival of Guru Ravidas Jayanti, which will be celebrated on February 16.

Guru Ravidas Jayanti is a festival that is popular among the Dalit community, which makes up more than 30% of Punjab’s electorate at the coming elections. If the election date had not been rescheduled, large flucations would be marked in the number of votes.

“They have brought to notice that a large number of devotees start moving for Varanasi around a week before the day of the celebration, and keeping the poll day on February 14, 2022 will deprive a large number of electors from voting,” the Election Commission statemented.