Election Commission likely to announce dates for Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh assembly elections today

The Election Commission is likely to announce the dates for Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections which are scheduled to take place at the end of the year. The three-member Election Commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner AK Jyoti will address a press conference at 4 pm. 

The legislative assembly tenures of Gujarat and Himachal shall end in January, 2018. While the term of the 182-member Gujarat Assembly ends on January 22, the term of the 68-member HP Assembly ends on January 7.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A K Joti had said Tuesday that the voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) will be used in over 50,000 booths in Gujarat. VVPAT was first used in the Goa polls earlier this year. He informed the Election Commission has set up at least one all-women poll centre in each of the 182 seats in Gujarat.

The 2012 Gujarat legislative assembly elections were held in December 2012 for all 182 members of the state legislative assembly.

Elections were held in two phases, the first on 13 December and second on 17 December 2012. Total voting turnout of both phases was 71.32 per cent, highest since 1980. Results were declared on 20 December 2012. The BJP, led by Narendra Modi, won 116 seats out of total 182 seats and formed the government while INC bagged 60 seats.

The Twelfth Legislative Assembly of Himachal Pradesh held 4 November 2012 was won by the Congress Party. The Congress won 36 of the 68 seats while the BJP won 26 of the 68 seats.

"Elections will have to be held in December as the term of the current Gujarat assembly is coming to end in the third week of January next", Jyoti said in response to a query on media reports and some politicians claiming that polls were going to be held in December.