Election Commission Of India Press conference: The Election Commission on Friday said that all 68 Assembly segments of Himachal Pradesh will go for polls in a single-phase on November 12, said Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar. The counting of votes will take place on December 8. However, the dates for Gujarat election have not been released by the ECI.
The press conference began at 3 pm at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
The term of the Gujarat Assembly ends on February 18 next year while that of Himachal Pradesh on January 8, 2023, according to PTI. The Commission had recently visited Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh to analyse and observe how much the two states are prepared for the polls.
Stay tuned with financialexpress.com as we bring to you all the updates from EC’s press conference.
Assembly Election 2022 Dates, Full Schedule Announcement Live Updates:
Election dates of Gujarat Assembly elections not announced by the ECI.
Date of gazetted notification: Oct 17
Last date of nominations: Oct 25
last date of Scrutiny: Oct 27
Last date of withdrawal of candidature: Oct 29
Date of poll: November 12
Date of counting: Dec 8
Date before which election shall be completed: Dec 10
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar says Himachal Pradesh elections will be held in a single-phase on November 12.
Himachal Pradesh: There are 55,07,261 electorates and first time voters are 1,86,681.
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From Know Your Candidate app, all information of candidates, including affidavits, as well as criminal antecedents, if any, will be known from this app.
In case, some people are not able to come to polling stations, assistance will be given by ECI. Entire process will be video-graphed.
"Without compromising the secrecy of votes, the facility of voting will be provided at the comfort of their homes."
Some polling stations will be managed by women, and some entirely by Public Works Department staff, says Kumar.
"PWD staff requires equity and equal opportunities, not sympathy," he says.
Four chances in a year to enroll as a voter, also advance application facility to 17+ year youngsters from November 9 onwards, who are turning 18+.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar says ECI went to states where elections are due.
PM Modi had earlier this week warned the BJP workers against Congress's “silent” campaigning in Gujarat and said the ruling BJP will have to slightly modify its poll strategy to counter what he termed “conspiracy” of the opposition party.
Read More: PM Modi senses ‘silent’ poll campaign by Cong in Gujarat, sounds out BJP cadres
Earlier this week, BJP national president JP Nadda launched the 'Gaurav Yatra' in Mehsana while Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated several multi-crore infrastructural projects in the state.
In poll-bound Gujarat, Kejriwal has promised several populist schemes if voted to power, including free electricity up to 300 units, free education in state government schools, unemployment allowance, 15 lakh jobs and converting part-time teachers into full-time among many others.
The BJP has been the ruling party in Gujarat since 1998. Congress did come close to defeating the BJP in 2017, but was unsuccessful.
The term of the Himachal Legislative Assembly is valid till January 8, 2023. The current strength of the Himachal House is 68 MLAs. The BJP has 45 members in the House, followed by the Congress at 20.
The present term of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly is valid till February 18, 2023. There are 182 seats in total in the Gujarat Vidhan Sabha. While BJP has 111 legislators, Congress has 62 MLAs.
The EC will likely announce the full schedule of assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh today.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is scheduled to hold a press meet at 3pm today.