Gujarat polls on Dec 13, 17, Himachal to vote on Nov 4; counting on Dec 20

New Delhi: The Election Commission on Wednesday announced dates for Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections. While Gujarat will have elections in two phases - December 13 and 17, Himachal Pradesh will vote on November 4. The counting for both the Assembly elections will take place on December 20.

The dates were announcements by Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath. He said that the model code of conduct has come into place in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh with immediate effect.

The term of the 182-member Gujarat and 68-member Himachal Assembly ends on January 17, 2013 and January 10, 2013 respectively, said the CEC.

The model code of conduct has come into place in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh with immediate effect.

Campaigning has already started in the two states with Gujarat seeing a lot of action as both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party as well as the Congress are leaving no stones unturned to mobilise their supporters.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who will be seeking re-election for third successive term, is already touring the state while Congress President Sonia Gandhi kicked off her party's election campaign from Rajkot on Wednesday. Modi while listing his government's achievements has also launched a personal attack on Sonia and alleged that the government has spent Rs 1,880 crore on her foreign trips and treatment abroad.

On the other hand, the Congress has accused the BJP government in Himachal Pradesh of financial mismanagement during its 56-month rule and said it posed serious threat to the future development of the state. HPCC president Virbhadra Singh alleged that the BJP government had deprived the state of gains of Rs 191 crore and Rs 850 crore in 2006-07 and 2007-08 respectively, and a Rs 130 crore deficit budget was presented in the first year (2008-09) which further increased to Rs 519 crore in 2009-10 and Rs 1,235 crore in 2010-11. The Nationalist Congress Party will also contest the elections in Himachal Pradesh and field candidates in almost all the 68 seats.

While Gujarat has 182 assembly constituencies, 13 of which are reserved for SCs and 26 for STs, Himachal Pradesh has 68 assembly constituencies, with 17 reserved for SCs and 3 for STs.

The BJP governments are fighting anti-incumbency in both the states.

Important dates and facts about Gujarat poll:

• Total assembly constituencies: 182
• Reserved for SC: 13
• Reserved for ST: 27
• Total no. of electors: 3,78,15,306
• Total no. of polling stations: 44,496
• Issue of notification (1st phase): November 11, 2012
• Issue of notification (2nd phase): November 23, 2012
• Last date for making nominations (1st phase): November 24, 2012
• Last date for making nominations (2nd phase): November 30, 2012
• Scrutiny of nominations (1st phase): November 26, 2012
• Scrutiny of nominations (2nd phase): December 1, 2012
• Last date for withdrawal of candidature (1st phase): November 28, 2012
• Last date for withdrawal of candidature (2nd phase): December 3, 2012
• Date of poll (1st phase): December 13, 2012
• Date of poll (2nd phase): December 17, 2012
• Counting of votes (both phases): December 20, 2012
• Date before which election process shall be completed (both phases): December 24, 2012

Important dates and facts about Himachal Pradesh poll:

• Total assembly constituencies: 68
• Reserved for SC: 17
• Reserved for ST: 3
• Total no. of electors: 45,16,054
• Total no. of polling stations: 7,252
• Issue of notification: October 10, 2012
• Last date for making nominations: October 17, 2012
• Scrutiny of nominations: October 18, 2012
• Last date for withdrawal of candidature: October 20, 2012
• Date of poll: November 4, 2012

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