Jharkhand, J&K and Delhi to go to polls November 25

The Election Commission of India on Saturday said the results of the polls will be announced on December 23.

The Election Commission of India on Saturday said the three states of Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir, and Delhi would have Assembly elections on November 25, 2014. 

The last day for nominations is November 5, with scrutiny of nominatins to be completed by November 7, Chief Election Commisioner V S Sampath said at a Press Conference today.

The last date for withdrawal of nominations is November 10. 

Counting of votes will be on December 23, 2014, and results will be declared the same day.

The first phase of polling in  in J&K and Jharkhand is  on November 25 while the next phase is on December 2. The third phase of polling in the two states will be on December 9. 

The fourth and fifth phases of polling will be on December 14 and December 20 while counting will be done on December 23.

The model code of conduct into immediate effect with this announcement.

Sampath dispelled apprehensions expressed by the National Conference that holding the polls in J&K soon after the floods, and said that the post-flood scenario and aspects such as the onset of winter, the festive season and the law and order situation were factored in while deciding the poll schedule.

"Except for one political party, most of the political parties (in Jammu and Kashmir) were in favour of holding elections on time. They said there is no reason, no justification for delaying the polls. The EC's mandate is to hold elections on time," he said.