NEW DELHI: Considered a semi-final before the Lok Sabha polls, assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Mizoram will be held in a single phase between November 25 and December 4, while it will be two- phased in Chhattisgarh on November 11 and 19.
Counting of votes in all the states will be on December 8, Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath told a press conference today.
While Madhya Pradesh will go to polls on November 25 to elect its 230-member assembly, elections for the 200-member Rajasthan assembly will be held on December 1. Assembly polls in Delhi with 70 constituencies and Mizoram with 40 seats will be held on December 4.
The Election Commission has also decided to hold bye- elections to the Surat (West) assembly constituency in Gujarat and Yercaud assembly seat in Tamil Nadu on December 4.
“The Model Code of Conduct comes into immediate effect with the announcement of dates,” the CEC said announcing that the Commission is deploying adequate general observers, police observers, expenditure observers and awareness observers to ensure free and fair polls.
Voters will for the first time also exercise the “None of the Above” (NOTA) option during these assembly polls after the Supreme Court allowed it in a recent judgment. The Commission is making arrangements so that voters can exercise this option and will create awareness on it.
“The Commission is working out details and steps for introducing NOTA in this election itself,” Sampath said.
In another first, the EC will also deploy “awareness observers” to oversee management of the electoral process and help bridge the gap in people’s participation to ensure higher voter turnout and also check the menace of “paid news”.
A total of 630 assembly constituencies in five states will go to polls in which a total of 11.60 crore voters are likely to exercise their franchise.
The poll process will be initiated on October 18 with the issue of notification for the first phase of elections in Naxal-hit Chhattisgarh to elect its 90-member assembly.
As per the poll schedule announced by EC, the last date for filing nominations for the first phase of elections in Chhattisgarh will be October 25.
After scrutiny the next day, the last date for withdrawal of nominations is October 28 and polling is on November 11.
The first phase of polls will cover only 18 assembly seats, including Bastar, which are the worst hit by naxalism.
In the second phase of polling in Chhattisgarh, the process of filing of nomination will begin on October 25 with the issuance of notification and the last date is November 1.
After scrutiny the next day, the last date for withdrawal of candidatures is November 4 and polling will be held on November 19. The tenure of the current 90-member assembly in the state ends on January 4 next.
For Madhya Pradesh, the poll process will be initiated on November 1 with filing of nominations and the last date for nominations is November 8.
After scrutiny on November 9, the last date for withdrawal of candidatures is November 11 and polling on November 25. The tenure of the current 230-member state assembly ends on December 12.
In Rajasthan, the poll process begins on November 5 with the issue of notification and the last date for filing of nominations is November 12. After scrutiny on November 13, the last date for withdrawals is November 16 and polling on December 1. The tenure of the current 200-member state assembly ends on December 31.
The poll process in Delhi and Mizoram begins on November 9 with the issue of notifications and the last date for making nominations is November 16. After scrutiny on November 18, the last date for withdrawal of candidatures is November 20 and polling in the two states would be held on December 4.
The poll schedule for the two bypolls is the same as that of assembly polls in Delhi and Mizoram.
The tenure of the current 40-member states assembly in Mizoram ends on December 15, that of the 70-member Delhi assembly ends on December 17.
While Congress is in power in Delhi, Rajasthan and Mizoram, BJP rules in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
A total of 1,33,537 polling stations will be set up with the maximum of 53,896 in Madhya Pradesh and a minimum of 1,126 in Mizoram. A total of 45,334 polling booths will be set up in Rajasthan, 21,418 in Chhattisgarh and 11,763 in Delhi. The Chief Election Commissioner said all candidates for these assembly polls will have to fill each column in the affidavits filed along with their nominations, as per a recent Supreme Court judgment.
“In case the columns in affidavits are left blank, the candidature of said candidate is liable for rejection,” he said, adding that awareness will be created for this.
Sampath said, “We are taking every possible measure for maintaining law and order for the conduct of free and fair elections. we will take the help of the local police and para-military forces for ensuring this.”
On the possibilities of disruption of polls in Naxal-hit areas, Election Commissioner H S Brahma appealed to all to help in ensuring peaceful polling.
“I appeal to all to participate in elections and exercise their franchise, irrespective of their individual differences,” he said.
To stop the flow of money and liquor ahead of polls, the Commission will maintain strict vigil and also coordinate with the excise and income tax departments to check the menace.
“The EC will maintain close liaison with banks to watch suspicious cash transactions,” Sampath said.
There are over 1.67 crore voters in Chhattisgarh, 4.64 crore in Madhya Pradesh and 4.06 crore in Rajasthan. While Delhi has 1.15 crore electors, Mizoram has the lowest number of 6.86 lakh voters.
The Commission will also deploy micro observers during the polling process who will keep a watch on campaigning and polling in certain sensitive assembly constituencies.
The EC has also put in place a complaint redressal system which will be linked to the web.
The poll body has also aimed at providing better facilities for voters which include drinking water and ramp facilities to physically challenged voters, besides adequate lighting in such areas where voting continues till late in the evening. -PTI
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