Census date reset puts early Punjab poll buzz to rest

On Saturday, the Centre advanced the population enumeration for Census 2027 in Punjab and three other poll-bound states, effectively putting speculation about the Assembly elections in Punjab to an end. According to a gazette notification, the census will be conducted from December 1, 2026, to January 4, 2027, with a revisional round from January 5 to 9.

Citizens can opt for self-enumeration between November 16 and 30, with the reference date for Census 2027 set for January 5, 2027. These states, including Punjab, Goa, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, have Assembly elections due by May 2027. The revised schedule poses challenges for the Election Commission, as it would be difficult to hold the Assembly polls in November.

The Census work and election duties share a significant manpower and logistical burden, as government employees, especially teachers, are deployed for both. This came a few months after AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal suggested that Punjab could hold elections in November 2026, which sparked a political row. An early election would have compressed the time for preparations, affecting parties like the BJP, which is trying to build a strong presence in Punjab.

The 2022 Assembly elections in Punjab were held on February 20, with the AAP winning 92 out of 117 seats.