Haj Pilgrims from Jharkhand Face Voting Conflict During Lok Sabha Polling
A significant number of Jharkhand’s Haj pilgrims will miss the upcoming Lok Sabha elections due to overlapping schedules with their religious journey.
RANCHI – A total of 1,747 pilgrims from Jharkhand are set to embark on the Haj pilgrimage this year, coinciding with the Lok Sabha election schedule in the state, leading to their inability to vote.
The pilgrims will depart between May 9 and 10 and return by May 25, during which three phases of voting will occur, with the final phase slated for June 1. The lack of a ballot voting option for these individuals means all will miss the chance to vote this election cycle.
Ranchi is sending the largest group, with 307 pilgrims, followed by East Singhbhum and Dhanbad, contributing significant numbers as well. The shift of the embarkation point from Ranchi to other locations, including Kolkata, adds complexity to their travel plans.
Concerns over this clash have prompted the outgoing chairman of the state Haj Committee and Jamtara MLA, Irfan Ansari, to propose notifying the Chief Election Commissioner, hoping to address this issue for future elections.
