Punjab to vote on February 20 instead of February 14: Election Commission

Punjab assembly elections will now be conducted on February 20 instead of the earlier date of February 14, the Election Commission of India said.

Several political parties had urged the EC to postpone the polls in view of Ravidas Jayanti on February 16.

The political parties said that lakhs of followers of Guru Ravidas will travel to Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh to celebrate the day. Therefore, they urged the EC to defer the polls for a few days after Ravidas Jayanti.

There is no change so far in the election schedules of the rest of the states.

Punjab will vote in a single phase only and the results of all the five elections will be announced on March 10.

Punjab elections will be a four-cornered fight with the BJP and Amarinder Singh duo along with SAD and the AAP looking to dislodge the incumbent Congress government.