Gujarat Assembly elections: The Election Commission on Thursday announced the poll schedule for Gujarat elections - polling on December 1, 5 and counting on December 8. In the first phase, the state would poll for 89 seats and in second phase, it would conduct election on 93 seats. The term of the 182-member Gujarat assembly ends on February 18 next year. The EC has allowed the withdrawal of candidature for 89 seats in 1st phase till November Nov 17 and November 21 for 93 seats in the second phase.
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. While responding to the question of being partial, an accusation levied by the main Opposition party, the Congress, the EC chief said that action speaks louder than words. "Action and outcome actually speak louder than words. No matter how much I try to make you understand, what's important are the actions & our correct results. Results have shown that those who are critical got surprising results," EC chief said.
Earlier in the day, the Congress took a swipe at the Election Commission about conducting 'impartial' elections. It tweeted, "The Election Commission of India is an autonomous institution. It conducts fair elections."
Soon this initiated a war of words when the BJP responded to this saying that Congress's tweet gives a sense of 'fear of losing'
On allegations of delaying polling dates due to the PM's visit to Gujarat, CEC Rajiv Kumar said, "Recently a very tragic incident occurred there Morbi Bridge Collapse one of the reasons why we delayed. Also, there was state mourning in the state yesterday; so multiple factors."
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