ECI defers J&K vote count date to October 8

Srinagar, Aug 31: Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday deferred the date of counting of votes of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls from October 4 to October 8.

According to an order, the poll body rescheduled the date of counting to October 8.

The ECI had announced the schedule for J&K assembly polls vide No ECI/PN/128/2024 dated August 16, 2024, wherein the date of poll for J&K (Phase-III) and Haryana was fixed on October 1, date of counting on October 4, and date of completion of the election process on October 6.

The ECI order said that it had received representations from national political parties, state political parties, and All India Bishnoi Mahasabha regarding the mass movement of people of the Bishnoi community of Haryana to Rajasthan to participate in centuries-old Asoj Amavasya festival celebration.

The ECI said that it might deny voting rights to a large number of people and lead to reduce voters’ participation in assembly polls of Haryana.

“The commission, having considered these representations, has decided to change the date of poll only for Haryana from October 1 to October 5,” the order said.

According to the order, under the revised schedule for the assembly polls of J&K, the date of counting of votes for both J&K and Haryana is now October 8 and the date before which the election should be completed has been deferred from October 6 to October 10.