In a letter addressed to the Election Commission, Sunil Jakhar, the Punjab BJP chief, requested an extension of the voting hours in the state by two hours due to the scorching heat. He proposed that the polling be conducted from 6 am to 7 pm.

Typically, polling across the nation is held between 7 am and 6 pm.

The polling for the 13 Lok Sabha constituencies in Punjab is scheduled for June 1.

In his letter to the Election Commission of India, Jakhar said, “With the final phase of general elections scheduled for June 1, Punjab will be experiencing an intense heat wave, making it extremely challenging for voters to cast their votes during the peak sunny hours. The intense heat wave will pose health risks, particularly to vulnerable groups such as the elderly and children.”

“To ensure higher voter turnout and safeguard public health, I, on behalf of BJP Punjab, request that the voting hours be extended to include cooler periods of day and the voting be allowed from 6 am to 7 pm,” the BJP leader said.

Jakhar emphasized that the extension of voting hours would encourage more people to exercise their right to vote while minimizing the health risks associated with the extreme heat.