Lok Sabha Elections 2019: No polls on festival and Fridays during Ramzan, says Election Commission

Post announcement of Lok Sabha elections dates by the Election Commission on Sunday, controversy irked as dates clashes with Ramzan. Responding to the controversy, the Election Commission of India on Monday said that no polls will be held on festivals and Fridays furing Ramzan.

"During Ramadan, polls are conducted as full month can not be excluded. However, date of main festival and Fridays are avoided for poll days," said Election Commission, quoted by ANI.

The national polls will be held in 7 phases and Ramzan is from May 5 to June 4. In West Bengal, where polling will be held in seven phases, nearly 31 per cent Muslim voters will become a key issue of Bengal politics.  The Trinamool Congress of Mamata Banerjee has questioned the Election Commission’s decision on the poll date.

However, this is not the first time that the Trinamool Congress is raising the issue of Ramzan with the election dates.

West Bengal has never witnessed a seven-phase election. The longest election was the 2016 assembly polls spread over six phases. The Trinamool Congress banks heavily on the Muslim votes in the state.

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