The Election Commission of India on Monday, 17 January, changed the date of polling in Punjab, originally scheduled for 14 February, to 20 February, after requests from several political parties due to Guru Ravidas Jayanti celebrations, which are held around the same time.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) made the announcement on Monday after a meeting was held in New Delhi to discuss the same.
The new dates pertinent for the elections are as follows:
Date of notification: 25 January
Last date of nomination: 1 February
Date of scrutiny: 2 February
Date of withdrawal: 4 February
Date of poll: 20 February
Counting of votes: 10 March
The EC meeting was called after Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Channi, the Punjab BJP, and Amarinder Singh's Punjab Lok Congress urged the poll body to reschedule the elections.