Gujarat Assembly elections: Voting in two phases on December 9, 14; results on December 18

Chief Election Commissioner A K Joti announced the dates to the Gujarat Assembly Elections on Wednesday (PTI Photo/File)

The Gujarat Assembly elections will be held in two phases — December 9 and 14 — and the results will be declared on December 18, 2017 the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Wednesday, bringing into immediate effect the model code of conduct. Addressing a press conference, Chief Election Commissioner AK Joti said Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines will be used in all constituencies to ensure transparency. He also announced a ceiling expenditure of Rs 28 lakh for each candidate contesting the polls. The tenure of the state Assembly is set to expire on January 22, 2018.

The first phase of polling will be held in 19 districts and 89 constituencies. Candidates have to file their nominations for this phase by November 21, while the last day for withdrawal of candidature is November 24. For the second phase —  13 districts and 93 constituencies — the last date for nominations is November 27, and withdrawal is November 20. The results to both phases will be declared on December 18.

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The poll body will set up 50,128 polling booths across the state. Further, the poll body will set up CCTV cameras at sensitive areas along the border to ensure polls are carried out smoothly.

The poll body had drawn criticism for what is being seen as a delay in announcing the elections. Opposition parties claimed the delay was to give the ruling BJP government time to announce several schemes and sops before the Model Code of Conduct comes into force. GST waiver to pay hike, Metro OK to gift for Patels, Gujarat government keeps giving

Among the slew of incentives, the Gujarat government has waived the 18 per cent GST for farmers using micro-irrigation systems, hiked allowances and maternity benefits for ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers and cleared the second phase of the Ahmedabad metro project — worth Rs 6,578 crore — among others things. Gujarat is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state.