'Ready to contest tomorrow': BJP leader on his party's Haryana poll postponement request

NEW DELHI: A day after the Haryana unit of Bhartiya Janta Party requested the Election Commission to defer the state assembly elections, the saffron party leader Anil Vij offered clarification on Sunday saying that the party was ok with preponing the poll dates as well.
He added that the party was ready to contest polls even if it was held tomorrow after Congress called it “nervous” for the upcoming elections.
The BJP had said cited holidays before and after the election date which could potentially lead to a lower voter turnout in the state.
Doubling down on this, Vij told reporters, “The declared dates make it possible for people to take extended holidays, which reduces voter turnout. Congress has reacted today, but we are not just asking for an extension. We suggest moving the dates back by a few days to prevent a long holiday period.”

BJP on Saturday said, “We have reasoned that the Assembly election date of October 1 is preceded by a holiday on the weekend and followed by some holidays, which may hit the voting percentage as people tend to go on vacation on long weekends that are followed by holidays.”
Responding to this, the grand old party said, “Seeing its defeat in front, the ruling party is giving childish arguments. Because it has no issue, no work or achievement to tell the public and no 90 candidates to give tickets to. That is why BJP is conspiring to postpone the elections by making an excuse of holidays.”
The Election Commission on August 16 announced that the Haryana assembly elections will take place in a single phase on October 1, with the results scheduled to be declared on October 4. The BJP is aiming for a third consecutive term, while the Congress is seeking to reclaim power from the ruling party.