Objections from the ruling BJP and its ally, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), and protests by the Congress may compel the state election commission to reconsider the dates for the election to the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) as the polling schedule coincides with the state’s biggest festival, Bihu, in mid-April.
In the Brahmaputra Valley of Assam, Rongali or Bohag Bihu is celebrated for seven days and each day has a special significance.
Assam state election commissioner Alok Kumar that the commission is closely watching the situation and may go with a consensus decision. “We will wait and watch for a couple of days on whether there is a consensus among political parties on the demand for the postponement of the election. We have received memorandum from two political parties in this regard,” said Kumar.
He said while preparing the schedule for the election, the issue of seven-day Bihu celebration was not pointed out by anyone. “The holidays are only for three days on account of Rongali Bihu. But since the issue of seven-day celebration has come up and if most of the mainstream political parties want a change of date, we will consider it,” Kumar informed.
