Two phase polls in Gujarat on Dec 1, Dec 5; EC brushes aside allegations of bias

TIL Desk/National/New Delhi/ Assembly elections in Gujarat will be held in two phases on December 1 and 5 with the counting of votes on December 8 along with that of Himachal Pradesh, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced on Thursday. Of the total 182 assembly seats in Gujarat, voting for 89 seats will be held on December 1 and the balance 93 seats on December 5, Kumar told a press conference that was also attended by Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey and senior officials from the poll authority.

The Commission had announced elections to Himachal Pradesh on October 14 but skipped declaring polls for Gujarat. Kumar also brushed aside opposition criticism of bias in delaying the poll announcement for Gujarat, contending that the Commission had to balance many things including weather, last date of the term of the assembly and the number of days the model code of conduct should be in force. The term of the Gujarat assembly ends on February 18, 2023 and the elections have been announced 110 days in advance, Kumar said.

“It is a combination of multiple factors and we are well within the factors of consideration, including polls in nearby states,” the chief election commissioner said. He indicated that the elections could have been announced a couple of days earlier, but for the tragedy that took place in the state. “We also had to take note of the tragedy that had befallen the state. That was also one factor for the delay. There was state mourning in the state till yesterday (Wednesday). So, it is (because of) multiple factors,” Kumar said.