The Gujarat polls will be held in two phases voting for which will be held on December 9 and December 14 respectively, the Election Commission announced today. The counting of the polls will be done on December 18.
Voting For Gujarat Polls On December 9, 14, Counting On December 18
The model code of conduct comes into effect immediately.
The poll process will start on November 14 with the issue of the gazette notification for the first phase. Candidates can start filing their nominations from that day.
The first phase will be held in 89 of the 182 seats and will cover 19 of 33 districts.
The notification for the second phase will be issued on November 20 for remaining 93 assembly seats.
Updates from the press conference-
- The Gujarat polls will be held in two phases.
- There are a total of 182 constituencies.
- First phase has 89 constituencies 19 districts . Voting - 9th Dec 2017
Second phase 93 constituencies’ 14 districts. Voting- 14 Dec 2017
- The Model Code of Conduct comes into effect immediately applicable to the state government of Gujarat, the Union government and all candidates and political parties.
- 50,128 polling booths will be set up for the elections, and there will be a total of 182 all-women polling stations, one in each assembly constituency.
- All 50,128 polling station will have VVPATs
- Commission has also made arrangements to ensure EVMs and VVPATs are made available at polling centres in Gujarat.
- Slips of at least one polling station from VVPATs will be counted. It will be chosen at random.
- Flash of light will be shown after voting, showing details of candidate to whom the voter has cast his vote. With Paper trail, every vote shall be able to see his vote.
- Ceiling of expenditure has been capped to Rs 28 lakhs for a candidate.
- To deal with paid news, a three-tier media monitoring committee has been formed.
- General observers to be deployed. General observers are IAS officers
- A mobile app will also be available for the common man.
- All payments will be made through e-payment gateway
- All licensed weapons will have to be deposited in police stations.
- CCTV cameras will be used at border checkposts to prevent the smuggling of liquor and money and to stop anti-social elements from entering the states.
- There will be voter assistance booths at every polling station.
The announcement of the Gujarat elections comes almost two weeks after the Election Commission declared dates for Himachal Pradesh on October 12. The delay led to the opposition raising questions on deviations from the norm and alleging that it was done to help the Centre announce sops for the state.
The Opposition alleged that the poll body did not announce the date for Gujarat polls as it was pressurised by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to delay it.
The Election Commission had, however, rejected the Opposition's charge and asserted that no special preference was given to any political party.
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"We have given equal opportunities to all political parties. We have not directed any party to hold or to not hold their rallies in the state. We are not meddling in their campaigns. Yesterday, the Prime Minister went to Gujarat. Today, Rahul Gandhi will go. We are not giving any special preference to any political party," Chief Election Commissioner Achal Kumar Joti had told ANI, in an exclusive interview.
(Inputs from agencies)
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