The Election Commission on Saturday postponed the Assembly elections in Haryana and pushed the counting dates in the state as well as in Jammu and Kashmir.

The EC has agreed to a request for the same made by the BJP and the Indian National Lok Dal in Haryana over a week ago. The Congress and the Jannayak Janta Party had opposed any change in the dates and said that the BJP had demanded so as they were running scared.

Haryana will now vote on October 5 and counting for both states will take place on October 8. The BJP had told the EC that many would leave for the long weekend if the polling was held as scheduled on October 1 (Tuesday) by taking leave on September 30. The BJP and INLD had also cited that October 2 was Gandhi Jayanti and the New Moon of Asoj.

The EC said in a media release: “Representations have been received from National Political Parties, State Political Party and All India Bishnoi Mahasabha regarding mass movement of people of Bishnoi community of Haryana to Rajasthan to participate in centuries-old Asoj Amavasya festival celebration. It may deny voting rights to large number of people and may lead to reduce voters’ participation in general elections to legislative Assembly of Haryana.”

Haryana’s polling is in a single phase while Jammu and Kashmir’s is in three phases —September 18, 25 and October 1 — because of the higher deployment of security forces to protect voters and candidates from the insurgency.

Counting for elections in different states that are held together happens on a single day to prevent the result of one election from influencing voters of the other. Counting for both Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir had previously been scheduled for October 4.