Election Commission of India(ECI) changes LS poll dates for Goa, Hazaribagh due to festivals Friday March 07,2014

The Election Commission of India(ECI)on Friday March 07,2014 changed the Lok Sabha poll date for Goa and one seat in Jharkhand due to religious festivals following demands for the same.

The date for the two constituencies going to Lok Sabha polls in Goa has been advanced from April 17 to April 12.

Similarly, the date of polling in Hazaribagh constituency has been postponed from April 10 to April 17


Note

ECI urged to change Goa Poll Date on Thursday March 06,2014
The Goa State Human Rights Commission headed by Justice (retd.) P.K. Mishra on Thursday March 06,2014 requested/recommended to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to fix an alternate date for holding elections to the two Parliamentary constituencies in Goa as the declared date of April 17 happens to be Maundy Thursday.

The Human Rights Commission said in its order that this was needed as Catholic community of Goa, which is very substantial in terms of population, would find it difficult to exercise their adult franchise on April 17. 

It has been pointed out that the Church service held on Maundy Thursday initiates the Easter Triduum, the period which commemorates the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and that this period includes Good Friday, Holy Saturday and ends on Easter Sunday.
As such it would be difficult for the voters from Catholic community to exercise their franchise on April 17

Various political parties, civil society groups and individuals have written to the ECI seeking alternate date for election.