Bharatiya Janata Party requests SEC to defer GMC poll due to Bihu

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The State unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has requested the State Election Commissioner (SEC) to postpone the forthcoming Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) election and conduct it on any date after April 21.

A delegation of the BJP, led by State unit general secretaries Diplu Ranjan Sarma and Pulok Gohairi, met SEC Alok Kumar on Thursday and submitted a memorandum in this connection.

It may be recalled that the SEC had announced on Wednesday that the GMC election would be held on April 19.

The BJP leaders stated in the memorandum that the people of Assam traditionally celebrate Rongali Bihu (or Bohag Bihu) for seven days in the month of April and this year it will be observed till April 21. They stated that since the date fixed for the GMC election falls in the middle of Bihu celebrations, it will consequently "create great inconvenience for the people living within the GMC area" when it comes to celebrating the Rongali Bihu festival.

"Therefore, for the greater interest of Assamese culture and tradition, as well as for smooth conduct of the election, we pray before you to postpone the date of poll as fixed on April 19 and reschedule it on any date after completion of the Bihu festival, which will traditionally end on April 21."

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