Mokokchung, 11 October (MTNews): The Rajasthan Assembly elections, originally scheduled for 23 November, have been rescheduled to 25 November, as announced by the Election Commission in their revised timetable on Wednesday. This electoral event will take place in a single phase, with the election results set to be declared on 3 December.
The reason cited for this change is the presence of weddings and “social engagements” on the originally designated polling day. The Election Commission expressed its intention to accommodate the needs and preferences of the electorate and address logistical challenges, which may have resulted in reduced voter participation on 23 November.
In a statement, the Election Commission said, “Representations have been received by the Commission from various political parties, social organizations and also issues raised in various media platforms for change of date of poll considering large scale wedding, social engagement on that day which may cause inconvenience to a large number of people, various logistics issues and may lead to reduced voter participation during the poll.”
The state of Rajasthan comprises 200 Assembly Constituencies, and the current term of the Rajasthan Assembly is set to conclude on 14 January 2024, with a Congress-led government currently in power.
Nagaland Congress for change in date of vote counting
Meanwhile, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has sought the “intervention” of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) to “change the date of vote counting” by apprising the Election Commission of India “so as to help the party and in particular and the Christian population in general.”
It may be mentioned here that the ECI on 9 October announced the by-polls for the 43-Tapi (ST) assembly constituency in Nagaland to fill the vacancy following the death of MLA Noke Wangnao.
The by-polls are scheduled to take place on 7 November 2023 and the results of the elections in all five states as well as 43-Tapi by-polls are scheduled to be announced on 3 December.
The Naga People’s Front (NPF) have also requested the ECI to “reconsider” the date of counting for the upcoming State Assembly Elections in various States, including the by-election to the 43 Tapi AC in Nagaland, as it coincides with a Sunday.