After much controversy over delay in announcement of poll dates for Gujarat assembly elections, the Election Commission announced the dates on Wednesday.
The polling will be held in two phases on December 9 and 14. Counting of votes will be held on December 18 along with that of Himachal Pradesh.
There are a total of 182 legislators. Chief Election Commissioner of India A.K. Joti said in New Delhi on Wednesday that in the first phase, polling will be held for 89 seats. The notification for the first phase will be out on November 14. The last date to file nomination for the first phase will be November 21, scrutiny will be held on November 22 and nominations can be withdrawn by November 24.
The second phase of polling will be held on December 14 and will cover 93 assembly seats. The last date for filing nomination for the second phase is November 27 and the scrutiny will be held on November 28. Nominations can be withdrawn by November 30.
While announcing the dates for the polling, Joti, said that the Model Code of Conduct has come into immediate effect. The MoC is also applicable to the Union Government as far as announcements for policy decisions on Gujarat are concerned.
A total number of 4.33 crore voters will exercise their franchise at 50,128 polling stations, which are 12.44 per cent more as compared to 2012. In 2012, there were 44,529 polling stations.
It is for the first time VVPAT will be used in Gujarat.
Replying to a question, Joti clarified that there was no other reason for the delay in the announcement except for the reason that the Chief Secretary of Gujarat had requested that the polls be held in such a manner that the flood relief work in North Gujarat is not adversely affected. Joti said that seven districts of Gujarat were affected by the floods and 229 persons had lost their lives.
There are two main parties in the fray—the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress. The BJP has been in power in Gujarat for the last 22 years.
It is for the first time since 2001 that BJP will be fighting the elections in the absence of Narendra Modi.
The BJP has set a target of winning 150+ seats and the Congress is rejuvenated after the victory of its leader Ahmed Patel in the Rajya Sabha elections. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi's rallies and meetings, too, have been receiving good response from the public.
AAP, NCP and other parties hardly have any presence.
