Change in election date: Akhilesh and Dimple Yadav's statement goes viral, political parties are in a tizzy

INDC Network: Uttar Pradesh: The dates for by-elections on 9 assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh have been suddenly changed. Earlier, voting on these seats was scheduled for November 13, but now it has been postponed to November 20. Giving the reason behind this decision, the Election Commission said that many political parties and social organizations had demanded a change in the date of voting due to festivals.

Change in voting date: Effect of festivals

According to the Election Commission, by-elections were to be held on November 13 for nine seats in Uttar Pradesh, four in Punjab and one in Kerala. But many parties and organizations had requested the commission to change the date of voting in view of the social, cultural and religious activities taking place on November 13. These activities include Kartik Purnima in Uttar Pradesh, Prakash Parv of Guru Nanak Dev in Punjab and Kalpati Rathotsavam in Palakkad, Kerala. Keeping all these festivals in mind, the commission has extended the date of by-elections in these states from November 13 to November 20.

On which seats are the by-elections?

The seats in Uttar Pradesh where by-elections will be held include Karhal in Mainpuri, Mirapur in Muzaffarnagar, Katehari in Ambedkar Nagar, Ghaziabad, Sisamau in Kanpur, Majhawan in Mirzapur, Phulpur in Prayagraj, Khair in Aligarh and Kundarki area in Moradabad. Voting for these seats will now be held on November 20 and the results will be declared on November 23. Voting for 4 seats in Punjab and 1 seat in Kerala will also be held on the same day.

Role of political parties: demands and rhetoric

Various parties like Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) had urged the Election Commission to look into the issue. They said that conducting elections amid festivals may reduce people's participation. Especially in Uttar Pradesh, many people go on religious pilgrimages before Kartik Purnima, which may affect voting. Congress especially cited the Rathotsavam festival for the Palakkad seat in Kerala, which will run from November 13 to 15. Similarly, in Punjab, the 555th Prakash Parv of Guru Nanak Dev will be celebrated on November 15, and special pujas will be organized from November 13.

Samajwadi Party's reaction: Dimple Yadav's statement

Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav has also reacted to the change in the date of the election. She said, "There is some commotion somewhere. Looking at the good work we are doing and the fact that we are contesting on some seats in Maharashtra too, the date has been changed after some coordination." After giving this statement, Dimple Yadav has further increased the election fervor, and a new discussion has started among the public about this change.

Importance and consequences of voting date

The results of these by-elections will be declared on November 23, which will clearly show which party will dominate the state politics. Like every time, this time too many questions are being raised among the public regarding the change in the date of the by-election, but the Election Commission says that its decision is completely fair and necessary.

With this change, it will be interesting to see whether voters turn out in large numbers on November 20. The religious and cultural activities of people during festivals can directly impact the voting percentage, which can also become an important signal for political parties.

Akhilesh Yadav has said while posting on X

"If we postpone, we will lose even worse! First the Milkipur by-election was postponed, now the date of by-elections for the rest of the seats has been announced. BJP was never this weak. The fact is that due to 'Maha-unemployment' in UP, people who go to work in the whole country have come to UP on Diwali and Chhath holidays, and were going to vote in the by-elections to defeat the BJP. As soon as the BJP got wind of this, it postponed the by-elections, so that people's holidays end and they go back without casting their votes. This is an old trick of the BJP: If we lose, we will postpone it."