The Election Commission of India held a press conference for the election schedule announcement of Assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh on Friday. "We are committed to conducting free and fair elections," says EC commissioner at the press conference.
We are making efforts to increase the participation of people in elections and we also try to manifest women empowerment through elections, he added. The election commission announced that Himachal Pradesh will go to polls on November 12 and results will be declared on December 8.
The term of the Gujarat Assembly ends on February 18 next year while that of Himachal Pradesh on January 8, 2023. The Commission had recently visited the two states to take stock of poll preparedness. The election commission also urged the citizen to be conscious and report if there's any ill practices. The commission confirmed that if there's a report of any malpractice, then action will be taken within an hour.
The Election Commission said it has been in a meeting with law enforcement agencies and has decided that the movement of cash will not be allowed after 5pm.
Home to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gujarat election is seen as a semi-final ahead of General Elections 2024. BJP has been conducting 'Gaurav Yatra'-led by its top leadership in the state to retain power again.
Notably, the 'Gaurav Yatra' has been fruitful to the saffron party so far. The first 'Yatra' was taken out by the then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, after the communal riots and before the 2002 state Assembly elections and it produced desired results for the saffron party. The second 'Gaurav Yatra' was organised in 2017 ahead of that year’s state polls. In 2002, the BJP had won 127 out of the total 182 seats. In 2017, the saffron party bagged 99 seats and the opposition Congress 77.
On the other side, Congress is hopeful for revival in the state owing to the ongoing 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' and the election of a new president after almost 20 years.
The third contender Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP is also claiming to give a strong fight to traditional parties in the state.
Also Read: BJP chief JP Nadda flags off 'Gujarat Gaurav Yatra' on five different routes in poll-bound state
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