Himachal goes to poll on 12 November, Gujarat yet to be decided

Himachal Pradesh will go to polls on 12 November to elect its next government and the results will be declared on December 8, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Friday. However, the ECI did not announce the dates of the Gujarat Assembly polls which were also expected to be held by the end of this year. The ECI held a press conference for the election schedule announcement of Assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh on Friday.
The term of the Himachal House will end on 8 January 2023.
The ECI said that the Assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh will take place on 12 November in a single phase for all the 68 constituencies, followed by the counting of votes on 8 December. The model code of conduct will take effect in the state from 17 October, after the notification for the elections is published.
“To the festive month of October, we are going to add the festival of democracy,” Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar told reporters while announcing the election schedule.
Himachal Pradesh voted to elect its legislative assembly on 9 November 2017. In the 68-member Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) defeated the Congress Party and won 44 seats while Congress secured only 21 seats in 2017.
At present, in Himachal Pradesh legislative assembly, the BJP has 45 MLAs, while Congress has 22 and CPIM has 1 MLA. In the upcoming state elections, The AAP is looking to set foot in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.
“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.
In Himachal Pradesh, the Congress is gearing up to challenge the BJP.
With the announcement of the election schedule in both states, the model code of conduct will come into force.