Gujarat assembly elections will be held in two phases on December 13 and 17, while polls in Himachal Pradesh will take place on November 4, the Election Commission announced on Wednesday.
Counting of votes will take place in the two states on December 20, Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath said. The notifications for the two phases of Gujarat elections will be issued on November 17 and 23 and for Himachal on October 10.
"The Model Code of Conduct has come into operation from this very moment (with the announcement of polls). The EC will enforce it strictly and will monitor all activities related to the elections in these states," Sampath said.
According to the poll schedule, the last date for filing nominations in Gujarat is November 24 for the first phase and November 30 for the second phase. After scrutiny on November 26 and December 1 for the two phases, the last date for withdrawal of candidature is November 28 and December 3 respectively. In Himachal Pradesh, the filing of nomination will end on October 17 and scrutiny will take place on October 18. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is October 20.
Sampath said, "The schedule of elections has been prepared keeping in mind the climatic conditions, academic calender like exams, festivals, law and order situation as well as availability of security forces and the time needed for their movement."
A total of 44,496 polling stations will be set up in Gujarat for 3.78 crore voters, while 7,252 polling stations will be established in Himachal Pradesh for an electorate of 45.16 lakh.
Gujarat has 182 assembly constituencies, of which 13 are reserved for SCs and 27 for STs, while there are 68 constituencies in Himachal Pradesh, with 17 reserved for SCs and three for STs.
The term of Gujarat's present assembly expires on January 17 and that of Himachal on January 10.