Congress attacks BJP over rescheduling of Haryana assembly elections

On Saturday (August 31), the Election Commission of India announced a change in the polling date for the assembly elections in Haryana. The commission said that the state elections will now be held on October 5 instead of October 1 and votes will be counted on October 8. The commission cited statements by national and state political parties and the All India Bishnoi Mahasabha, which highlighted that a significant number of people from the Bishnoi community would be in Rajasthan for the traditional Asoj Amavasya festival. The commission said that this decision was taken to honour both the right to vote and the traditions of the Bishnoi community, which maintains the age-old custom of participating in the Asoj Amavasya festival in memory of their Guru Jambheshwar.