Photo: IBNLive
Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat will pick new assemblies on Nov 4 and Dec 13 and 17, respectively, in elections that will see a virtual straight fight between the ruling BJP and Congress in both states.
Chief Election Commissioner V.S. Sampath told the media here that votes in both states will be counted Dec 20. These will be the most important state elections since Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state, voted in February-March this year, along with Goa, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Manipur.
Both Himachal Pradesh (182 seats) and Gujarat (68 seats) are ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party, with the Congress desperate to dislodge it. The announcement came hours after Congress president Sonia Gandhi unleashed the Congress campaign in Gujarat with a stinging attack on the BJP. "We are making foolproof security arrangements in both states by deploying adequate strength of central police forces," he said.
Armed police forces from other states would also be deployed in the two states. Sampath said there would be strict monitoring of expenditure incurred by political parties and candidates as well as "paid news". He said all candidates would be required to open separate bank accounts and incur expenditure only from these accounts. The Election Commission, Sampath said, expects "the highest standards" of conduct and neutrality in election work from officials.
"Their work will be under constant watch and scrutiny." He added that the model code of conduct for political parties would be strictly enforced. Sampath said the polling dates had been determined after taking into account climatic conditions, particularly in Himachal, academic calendar, festivals, law and order, and availability of security forces.
Tag : #Himachal Pradesh #Election Commission of India #vs sampath #gujarat polls
from
IANS
Mamata scared of entering any village: CPI-M
Ridiculing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's visit to Kamduni village, the opposition Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) on Tuesday said she was now "scared" to enter a village in the state.
from IANS
Delhi: Sex racket busted, one arrested
A sex racket was busted in Delhi after two Uzbek women who were held hostage for five months in a house and were repeatedly sexually abused by customers, escaped, police on Tuesday said.
from PTI
SC agrees to hear PIL on US surveillance
The Supreme Court today agreed to give an urgent hearing to a PIL on the issue of US National Security Agency snooping on Internet data from India
from
PTI
US House passes bill to ban abortion after 20 weeks
The Republican-controlled US House of Representatives has approved a legislation to ban abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
from
in.com
26/11 braveheart seeks uniform back from court
Senior IPS officer Sadanand Date, who was injured in the gun battle with Pakistani terrorists Ajmal Kasab and Abu Ismail during the 26/11 attacks, has approached a local court seeking getting back his uniform.
from
IANS
PM assures help to flood-hit Uttarakhand
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday directed all central government agencies to assist in rescue and relief operations in flood-affected Uttarakhand and assured Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna of all help, a statement said.
from
IBNLive
HSBC officials caught laundering money
The latest sting operation by the online magazine exposes how some employees in two foreign banks in India have also been involved in accepting black money and agreeing to launder it.
