New Delhi: The Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday announced the majority of 182 seats in the Gujarat Assembly elections will be voted in two stages; first on 9 December and second on December 14.
The results will be announced on December 18, Chief Election Commissioner Achal Kumar Joti said. He said, “Model Code of Conduct has now been implemented in Gujarat.”
The candidates will have to open new bank accounts for election expenses. The Election Commission has fixed a maximum limit of Rs 28 lakh for each candidate, Joti Said. The Election Commission will set up 50,128 polling booths in the state.
That, for security measures, CCTV will be set up on border check posts. The Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) will be deployed in advance and route marches will be organized to build self confidence amongst the people.
The 13 days after the voting date of Himachal Pradesh, the announcement on Wednesday was announced at the beginning of this month.
The term of 182-member Gujarat assembly ended on 23 January 2017.
The Commission has been attacked by opposition parties for not declaring dates with Himachal Pradesh for Gujarat assembly elections.
The opposition has alleged that the delay in the announcement of the Gujarat elections had given the Election Commission time and time for the Central Government to remove the provisions of model code and to support voters to swing the voters. In favor of saffron party.
After the Election Commission did not announce the Gujarat election program, the Congress had alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had to play “false Santa Claus” and free the voters for declaration of freebies before the model code of conduct kicked in.
The Chief Election Commissioner, A.K. Joti has defended the decision to declare the Himachal Pradesh’s public list before Gujarat, and said that many factors, including weather, flood relief work and festivities were discussed before calling on the election date.
The CEC had earlier said that elections in Gujarat and Himachal in 2012 were announced, their programs were different. He also said that there is no equality in the pattern of geography or weather in both the states.
