Highlights: Election Commission announces poll dates for Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh

New Delhi: Chief Election Commission VS Sampath held a press conference today where he announced the poll dates and plan for Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh poll today.

Here are the highlights:

• Gujarat and Himachal - their present assembly times come to an end on January 17, 2013, and January 10, 2013.
• After 2008, Gujarat total constituencies is 182 (announces SC/ST reservation). Himachal constituencies are numbered 68 after delimitation.
• We have looked at the law and order and deployment of forces: There are foolproof arrangements, Central police force and state police have been deployed. Besides assuring peaceful polls, they would also be in charge of EVM storage places.
• Elections will be done with EVMs. And first level checks have been done.
• Himachal elections will take place in one phase; the date for polling is November 4, 2012. The counting will take place on December 20, 2012.
• Polls in Gujarat will take place in two phases: First phase on December 13, 2012 and second phase on December 17, 2012. The counting will take place on December 20, 2012.