The Assembly polls in all 117 constituencies of Punjab have been rescheduled and will be held on February 20. The single-phase polls were earlier slated for February 14. The polls have been deferred by six days in view of the birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas, which will be observed on February 16.
The Election Commission’s decision comes in the wake of demand by political parties seeking deferment of polls because thousands of voters could go to Varanasi for Guru Ravidas Jayanti on February 16. Ravidass community constitutes a major vote bank in Punjab politics. A well-known temple dedicated to Guru Ravidass is located in Varanasi.
In a statement, the EC said, “After consideration of all facts made available, Election Commission has announced 2022 General Elections to the Legislative Assembly of State of Punjab on January 8, 2022 under which notification for the election is to be issued on January 21 and poll is to take place on February 14.”
In view of Ravidas Jayanti, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi had urged the EC to defer the polls by six days. Other parties, including the BJP, the Punjab Lok Congress, the AAP, and the BSP too made similar requests.
As per the new schedule, the date of notification will be on January 25, while the last date of nomination will be February 2. The applications will be scrutinised on February 2, while the last date of withdrawal of application is February 4. Counting would be held on the same day as before — March 10.
“Commission has received several representations from State Government, political parties and other organisations drawing attention regarding movement of a large number of devotees from Punjab to Varanasi for participation in Sri Guru Ravidas Ji Jayanti celebrations, which is observed on February 16. They have also brought to the notice that a large number of devotees start moving for Varanasi around a week before the day of celebration and keeping the poll day on February 14 will deprive a large number of electors from voting.
In view of this, they have requested to shift the poll date few days after February 16, 2022,” it added.
In his letter to the EC, Channi, a Dalit leader, said some representatives of Punjab’s Scheduled Castes have demanded that the polls be scheduled in such a way that they are able to visit Banaras, Guru Ravidas’s birthplace, during February 10-16 and also participate in the polls.
Channi’s move testifies to the growing influence of the Ravidassia community, followers of Guru Ravidas, on the politics of Punjab which accounts for about 32 per cent Dalit population, highest in the country in percentage terms.
After Channi, Punjab BJP general secretary Subhash Sharma wrote to EC seeking postponement of the Assembly polls on the same ground, saying the State has substantial population of followers of Guru Ravidas ji, including the SC community which is about 32 per cent of the population of Punjab.”
Guru Ravidas Jayanti is a festival that is popular among the Dalit community, which makes up more than 30 per cent of Punjab’s electorate at the coming elections. Around 20 lakh devotees are expected to travel to Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh between February 10 and 16 to celebrate the day. Political parties feel that they would not be able to cast their votes due to this.
According to a 2018 report by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, there are 39 sub-castes among Dalits in Punjab. However, five sub-castes constitute more than 80 per cent of the Dalit population. Mazhabi Sikhs comprise the largest share of 30 per cent, followed by Ravidasias (24 per cent) and Ad Dharmis (11 per cent).Dalits are concentrated even more in Punjab’s Doaba region, where the Ravidassia community’s largest Dera (religious place), Dera Sachkhand, is based in Ballan village. Dera Sachkhand Ballan has lakhs of followers around the world. In Punjab, it has about 15 lakh followers, mostly from the Doaba region.
The EC noted that it has also taken inputs from the State Government and Punjab’s Chief Electoral Officer in this regard. “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, now the Commission has decided to reschedule the General Elections to Legislative Assembly of Punjab,” it said.