Opposition accuses BJP of fear and manipulation, Election Commission’s decision awaited.
In a dramatic twist ahead of the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections, a letter from Haryana BJP president Mohan Lal Badoli to the Chief Election Officer seeking brief postponement of the October 1 Assembly polls has ignited a political firestorm.
The BJP’s request comes on the heels of the sudden election announcement last week, which caught many by surprise. Interestingly, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) has thrown its weight behind the BJP, also writing to the Election Commission to support the deferment. However, the Congress, Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have vehemently opposed the move, insisting that the elections should proceed as scheduled.
Congress leader Deepender Hooda took to X (formerly Twitter) to lambast the BJP, accusing them of running scared. “The BJP’s request to the Election Commission to postpone the elections reveals their fear of impending defeat. They are resorting to childish excuses because they have no issues to present, no achievements to showcase, and not even 90 worthy candidates to contest. The voters of Haryana are aware and won’t be distracted by holidays; they will turn up in large numbers to oust the BJP,” Hooda declared. He further asserted, “Changing the election date won’t change the minds of the people of Haryana. The BJP is on its way out, and Congress is coming in.”
JJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala also criticized the BJP, arguing that the party’s plea to delay the elections stems from a fear of early voting. Speaking in Jind, Chautala expressed confidence that the Election Commission would not entertain the BJP’s request. “The BJP’s support has dwindled so much that they may not even secure 20 seats. On October 1, Haryana voters will show their anger by voting the BJP out of power,” he predicted.
AAP Haryana president Sushil Gupta echoed these sentiments, stating, “The days of the BJP and JJP are numbered. Their defeat is inevitable, which is why BJP leaders are now talking about extending the election date.”
Meanwhile, BJP leaders have been defending their request, arguing that the proposed election date of October 1 could see a dip in voter turnout due to the holidays. Senior BJP leader Anil Vij further clarified, “We are not demanding a delay; the polls can be advanced as well. The concern is that October 1 falls in the middle of a holiday period.”
In his letter, BJP state president Badoli expressed concern that many voters might be away from their constituencies during the extended weekend, which could lead to reduced participation in the elections.
Political observers suggest that the BJP’s concern may be rooted in the fact that urban voters, who traditionally form a significant part of the party’s base, are more likely to travel during long weekends.
As the debate rages on, Haryana’s Chief Electoral Officer Pankaj Agarwal has forwarded the letters to the Election Commission, with a decision on the matter expected by Tuesday. The outcome of this request would not only have far-reaching implications for the political fortunes of political parties, but any change in the date of polling day, may also led to change in the entire election schedule-including the counting of vote which is scheduled for October 4.
