NEW DELHI: The Election Commission today announced the dates for the upcoming assembly polls in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh scheduled to be held later this year.
In Gujarat, there will be a two-phase poll: the first phase will be on December 13 and the second on December 17.
Himachal Pradesh will go to polls on November 4.
Chief Election Commissioner V.S. Sampath told the media that votes in both states will be counted Dec 20.
These will be the most important state elections since Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state, voted in February-March this year, along with Goa, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Manipur.
Both Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat are ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party, with the Congress desperate to dislodge it.
The announcement came hours after Congress president Sonia Gandhi unleashed the Congress campaign in Gujarat with a stinging attack on the BJP.
"We are making foolproof security arrangements in both states by deploying adequate strength of central police forces," he said.
The Election Commission, Sampath said, expects "the highest standards" of conduct and neutrality in election work from officials.
"Their work will be under constant watch and scrutiny." He added that the model code of conduct for political parties would be strictly enforced.
Gujarat has 182 assembly constituencies out of which 13 are reserved for SCs an 26 for STs and Himachal Pradesh has 68 assembly seats, with 17 reserved for SCs and 3 for STs.
The following is the schedule for assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat as announced by the Election Commission on Wednesday:
Himachal Pradesh:
Issue of notification - Oct 10
Last date for filing nominations - Oct 17
Scrutiny - Oct 18
Last date for withdrawals - Oct 20
Polling - Nov 4
Counting of votes - Dec 20
Gujarat:
Phase I:
Issue of notification - Nov 17
Last date for filing nominations - Nov 24
Scrutiny - Nov 26
Last date for withdrawals - Nov 28
Polling - Dec 13
Counting of votes - Dec 20
Phase II:
Issue of notification - Nov 23
Last date for filing nominations - Nov 30
Scrutiny - Dec 1
Last date for withdrawals - Dec 3
Polling - Dec 17
Counting of votes - Dec 20 (IANS)
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