EC Finally Declares Schedules for Gujarat Elections: Check What’s New

Thirteen days after announcing Himachal Pradesh poll dates, the Election Commission finally declared the schedules of Gujarat Assembly elections 2017 on Wednesday afternoon. However, when asked about the reason for this delay in the announcement, the poll body gave a bizarre reason, “Unprecedented rains delayed the announcement of election dates,” it said in response to a question raised by journalists.

The state will go to polls in two phases on December 9 and 14 and counting will be held on December 18.

Take a look at the important announcements made by the EC:

These are the important dates for the first phase of the Gujarat elections:

Date of issue of gazette notification for the first phase – November 14, 2017
Last day to file nominations – November 21
Date of scrutiny of nominations – November 22
Last date for withdrawal of candidature – November 24
Date of polling – December 9

Important dates for the second phase:

Date of issue of gazette notification for the second phase – November 20
Last day of nominations date – November 27
Date of scrutiny of nominations – November 28
Last date for withdrawal of candidature – November 30
Date of polling – December 14

Rs 28 lakh ceiling expenditure for candidates

The poll body has announced an expenditure limit of Rs 28 lakh for candidates. “Candidates will have to open a separate account and use that for elections,” said Chief Election Commissioner AK Joti.

Slips on VVPATs will be counted as a pilot project

The EC said EVMs and VVPATs will be used in the elections. It will ensure that the required number of EVMs and VVPATs is available in the state for the polls, he said. “We have good experience in deployment of VVPATs in polling stations,” Joti added.

The VVPATS will also be counted on some polling booths as a pilot project, he added.

Model Code of Conduct applicable from right now

“The Model Code of Conduct has come into force from now,” says CEC AK Joti, adding that “all parties and candidates have to adhere to it”.

EC to set up 102 all-women polling stations

There will be 102 all-women polling stations for the polls in Gujarat, said CEC and added, “Differently-abled voters will be given preference at polling stations”.

The commission has been drawing criticism for delaying the announcement. The tenure of the 182-member house in the state ends in January 2018.

Opposition parties have criticised the EC for “delaying” the announcement to give the ruling party, which is the BJP, in the state and at the Centre time to announce several schemes and sops before the Model Code of Conduct comes into force. Gujarat is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state.