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The Election Commission Saturday announced dates for the assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Mizoram and Telangana. With the announcement of the poll dates by the ECI, the Model Code of Conduct has come into force with immediate effect.
The election in Chhattisgarh will be held in two phases, in the first stage, elections will be held in 18 assembly constituencies on November 12. In the second phase, the election in 72 constituencies will be held on November 20. Legislative elections in Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram will be held on November 28. Meanwhile, in Rajasthan and Telangana will go to polls on December 7 in a single phase.
Counting of votes in all five states will be held on December 11, 2018, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) O P Rawat announced in the press conference.
Breaking: Date of counting for all four poll-bound states December 11
Chhattisgarh to vote on November 12, 2018 in the first phase. Second phase of voting will be on November 20, 2018
Model code of conduct comes into effect in Chhattisgarh, MP , Rajasthan and Mizoram from today: CEC OP Rawat
Polls top be held before December 15, as assemblies come to an by mid January 2019
Simultaneous elections will be held in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram, before 15th December: CEC OP Rawat in Delhi
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said it has “waited too long” for the Congress and will now “consult” the BSP and the Gondwana Gantantra Party for an alliance in the Madhya Pradesh polls. The move comes days after BSP president Mayawati parted ways with the Congress, alleging that the Rahul Gandhi-led party was adopting a stubborn attitude and it was out to finish her party.
The Election Commission will today declare the schedule of the assembly elections in four states, including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram. As per the sources, dates for Telangana assembly elections are likely to be announced today. The assembly elections in Telangana were initially scheduled to be held concurrently with the Lok Sabha election 2019.
Model Code of Conduct will come in force after the announcement is made by Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat during a press conference this afternoon in New Delhi. Sources stated that the whole election process will be concluded by the first week of December. Chhattisgarh polls are likely to be completed in two phases.
All the political parties have already started campaigning in poll-bound states. BJP is currently ruling in three states including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Congress is the incumbent government in Mizoram.
Related:
Chhattisgarh Polls 2018: BJP to replace weaker MLAs with five sitting MPs
Rajasthan Polls 2018: Minorities ready to play vital role in assembly election
Madhya Pradesh Polls 2018: BJP planning exit of 30 MLAs, two front line leaders too