Punjab Assembly polls postponed to February 20

New Delhi, January 17

The Election Commission has postponed the Punjab Assembly polls to February 20 in view of the Ravi Das Jayanti celebrations.

According to the new schedule, the date of notification will be January 25. The last date for filing the nominations is February 1. The date of scrutiny is February 2 and the last date of withdrawal is February 4. The counting of votes remains unchanged- March 10.

The Commission said the postponement had been done as it had received several representations from the state government, political parties and other organisations drawing its attention to the expected movement of a large number of people from Punjab to Varanasi for participation in Guru Ravidas Jayanti celebrations.

The Jayanti falls on February 16.

A large number of devotees start moving to Varanasi around a week before the day of celebration and polling on February 14 would have deprived them of voting.

Inputs from the state government and Punjab chief electoral officer were sought.

The Congress and the BJP were among others who had sought the postponement.