Polls in Himachal on Nov 12, counting on Dec 8; Gujarat dates not announced

New Delhi: Himachal Pradesh will go to polls on November 12, the Election Commission said on Friday but did not announce the poll schedule for Gujarat citing past precedents.

Addressing a press conference here, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said the counting of votes for Himachal Pradesh polls will take place on December 8 and elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure maximum participation of voters in the "festival of democracy".

According to the poll schedule for Himachal Pradesh on Friday, the notification for the election will be issued on October 17 and the last date for filing of nominations will be October 25.

The scrutiny of nominations will be held on October 27 and the last date for withdrawal of nominations will be October 29.

Kumar said the polls will be held on November 12 and the counting of votes will be held on December 8.

"When we come for Gujarat we will tell you this," Kumar said when asked whether the counting of votes for Gujarat will also be held on December 8.

The CEC also cited weather in Himachal Pradesh as one of the reasons for the early announcement of elections in the hill state.

In the elections to the 68-member Assembly with over 55 lakh eligible voters, the BJP will seek to overturn the three-decade convention of no ruling party returning to power by defeating the main opposition Congress in the hill state.

However, the Commission refrained from announcing the poll schedule for the Gujarat Assembly which has a tenure till February 18, 2023.

"The Election Commission goes by convention in announcing poll schedules. It has decided to go by the convention which was last followed," Kumar told reporters when asked why Gujarat polls were not announced.

Kumar asserted that polls in one state will not affect elections in the other as "there is a gap of 40 days" in the qualifying dates of the state assemblies of Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat. The term of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly ends on January 8, 2023. "Now, we do not want that the entire election exercise to continue for a very long period. It does not disturb anybody. And because of a variety of factors, multiple things together the Commission decided to go by the convention which was set up last time," the CEC said.

However, it is still possible to hold Gujarat elections in the November-December period so that the votes could be counted on the same day as was the case in 2017.

The announcement of elections come a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the state during which he launched a slew of development projects and flagged off the Vande Bharat Express linking Una district with the national capital.

On Friday, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra launched the party's election campaign in the hill state by addressing the 'Parivartan Pratigya Rally' at Solan.

"We welcome the announcement made by the Election Commission. We are ready to seek the blessings of the people. The double engine government has done splendid work in Himachal Pradesh and is confident that the people will bless the BJP once again," I&B Minister Anurag Thakur said.

Some opposition leaders pointed out that announcing Gujarat elections later could allow the incumbent government to roll out more welfare schemes before the model code of conduct kicks in.

"Obviously this has been done to give more time to the PM to make some mega promises & carry out more inaugurations. Not at all surprising," AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh said.

The Aam Aadmi Party, which is seeking to expand its footprint nationally, said it was fully confident of getting the people's mandate in Himachal Pradesh.

In 2017, the Commission had announced elections to Himachal Pradesh on October 12 and to Gujarat on October 25. The counting of votes was held on December 18.

Over 55 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise for 68 assembly seats in Himachal Pradesh.

There are 1.86 lakh first-time voters, 1.22 lakh aged 80-plus and 1,184 voters who are above 100 years of age.

Himachal Pradesh has a 68-member assembly and the BJP had won a clear majority by winning 44 seats in the 2017 elections. The Congress managed to win 21 seats, Independents bagged two seats and the CPI(M) emerged victorious on one seat.

In percentage terms, the BJP won 48.79 per cent of the total valid votes, followed by the Congress (41.68 per cent) and Independents (6.34 per cent).

The BJP and the Congress have given alternate governments in the hill state for over three decades.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission said its teams will constantly monitor social media platforms to check fake news in the upcoming assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh and respond immediately as it asserted it will not hesitate in taking criminal action wherever required.

CEC Kumar said the panel has "established social media teams to keep strict vigil on fake news being spread during elections. Social media will be monitored constantly and any fake news would be acted upon immediately penal actions can be taken too".

Kumar said keeping in view increasing incidents of "misuse of social media", social media platforms agreed to observe Voluntary Code of Ethics formulated by them in March, 2019.

Citing an example of fake news about EVMs during elections, Kumar said the commission works so hard to conduct free and fair polls and then a particular news comes up and all leads to all kind of narratives.

"Social media would be monitored. They (teams) all have been directed to respond immediately before its gets the traction... It becomes explosive. And if 30 minutes have gone then there is no point in answering this because damage is done. They have all been asked to be very very vigilant and respond with facts," he said while responding to a question on social media.

He further said teams have been instructed to respond immediately.

"If they can't respond with facts in 15-20 minutes then reply by saying we have seen this we are finding facts and we will come back. So that they join that thing immediately and they break that cycle, before it goes out of hands," Kumar added.

On the question of action, the CEC said, "There are criminal action possibilities which originate out of various legislative frameworks under the IPC and under the various acts we will not hesitate in taking those action, wherever IPC or other section violation is involved. We have made it clear to everybody and we will enforce this."

Kumar said the commission also requests all political parties and candidates to ensure that their supporters "do not indulge in hate speeches and fake news." And also keep strict watch on social media posts to ensure that the election atmosphere is not vitiated.

He also added that media can also play an active role in curbing the menace of fake news.