Punjab Elections 2022: Polling in Punjab deferred

Punjab Assembly elections 2022: Following repeated requests from various quarters with regard to deferring the Assembly elections in Punjab, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has decided to postpone the voting dates for the Punjab Assembly election to February 20. Earlier, the State was scheduled to go for polls on February 14. This comes after several political parties, including Bahujan Samaj Party, Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, and Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, had requested the Commission to postpone the elections. Sources said that the request was made as many people from the Scheduled Caste community from State are likely to visit Varanasi, in view of Guru Ravidas birth anniversary on February 16. Also read | Covid-19: Study shows evidence of Omicron’s community transmission After considering these new facts emerging out of these representations, inputs from the State Government and Chief Electoral Officer, past precedence, and all facts and circumstances in the matter, the Election Commission decided to reschedule the Elections to Legislative Assembly of Punjab in the following manner:

• Date of Notification: 25th January 2022 (Tuesday)
• Last date of Nomination: 1st February 2022 (Tuesday)
• Date of Scrutiny: 2nd February 2022 (Wednesday)
• Date of Withdrawal: 4th February 2022 (Friday)
• Date of Poll: 20th February 2022 (Sunday)
• Counting of votes will be taken up on 10th March 2022 (Thursday)

The demand for postponing the assembly polls in Punjab was in view of Guru Ravidas Jayanti, which will be celebrated on February 16.

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Election Commission of India postpones Punjab Assembly Elections to February 20, 2022 Punjab was earlier scheduled to vote on February 14 in the second phase of the polls Press Note? https://eci.gov.in/files/file/13957-press-note/

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- PIB India (@PIB_India) 17 Jan 2022

The Election Commission on Monday held a meeting to discuss the request of Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi, BJP, and Punjab Lok Congress for postponement of Punjab Assembly elections 2022 scheduled for Feb 14 as many people from SC community from State likely to visit Varanasi, in view of Guru Ravidas birth anniversary on Feb 16. On the other hand, former Deputy Speaker of Punjab Bir Devinder Singh had appealed to the Election Commission to postpone the Punjab elections in view of the health emergency created by the new variant of Covid spread in Punjab. Punjab Assembly elections 2022 were earlier scheduled to be held in a single phase on February 14. The results will be announced on March 10. Also Read | Covid vaccination drive added strength to fight against infection, saved lives: PM Narendra Modi -PTC News