Gujarat Assembly elections on December 9, 14; counting on December 18

The model code of conduct comes into immediate effect after the poll body announces the dates.

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NEW DELHI: Gujarat Assembly elections will be on December 9 and 14 while the counting will be held on December 18, said the Election Commission or EC on Wednesday. The model code of conduct comes into effect with this announcement.

1 pm onwards: The Election Commission Live press conference:

*Gujarat elections will be held in two phases on December 9 and December 14. Counting of votes on December 18

Schedule of first phase elections (89 constituencies and 19 districts)

Issue of gazzete: November 14 
Last day of filing nomination: November 21 

Scrutiny of application: November 22 

First phase polling/ election date: December 9

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Schedule of second phase elections (92 constituencies and 14 districts)

Last day of filing nomination: November 27

Second phase polling/ election date: December 14

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Counting on December 18

*Elections in Gujarat has always been peaceful in past, says CEC

*182 polling booths to have only women staff

*All 50,128 polling booths to have VVPATs

*IT-based vehicle management system to be installed

*A common IT platform and a mobile app will be available to the common man to raise any complaints or queries.

*Mobile vans being deployed to ensure free and fair elections

*Revised instructions have been issued on paid media

*Commission has asked the CEO of Gujarat maintain positive line of contact with media.

*Ceiling of expenditure is Rs 28 lakhs per candidate. The expenditure details need to be submitted in 75 dates

*CCTVs to be installed in polling booths

*Differently-abled voters will be given preference at polling stations: CEC

*Additional CCTVs will be installed at border check posts.

*One polling polling station selected where VVPAT slips will be counted 

*VVPATs and EVMs will exists in every polling station

*Before polling, all voters will be given photo slips voting (Slips bearing photo of voters)

*Overal 50,128 polling booths will be set up. An increase in 12.44 % increase in polling booths in Gujarat

12:58 pm: The Election Commission will soon address a press conference to announce election schedule of Gujarat.

12:42 pm: Ahead of EC announcing the poll dates, former Congress leader Shankersinh Vaghela took a dig at leading political parties and their funding. “We won't take any funds from Ambani and Adani,” said the septuagenarian on Wednesday while briefing the media about his new political outfit Jan Vikalp Morcha (JVM).

10:50 am: Earlier, on October 12, while announcing the dates for Himachal Pradesh poll, the ECI had stated that Gujarat elections will be held before  December 18. It further hinted that counting of both states (Gujarat and Himachal) are likely be conducted simultaneously.

The model code of conduct will come into immediate effect after the ECI announces the poll dates. 

According to sources, Gujarat elections are likely to be held in two phases. In 2012, the elections were held in two phases on December 13 and 17.

The Bharatiya Janata Party or BJP has won the last five assembly elections in Gujarat. The party is predicted to comfortably win the upcoming assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat. 

In 2012, the party won 115 seats. Term of the current 182-member assembly will end on January 22, 2018. 

Last week, PM Modi visited the state, announcing a slew of initiatives and measures.

Himachal Pradesh polls will be held on November 9, counting on December 18.

For the first time, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh polls will witness the use of Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPATs) with all Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).