CPI(M) questions EC over non-announcement of Guj poll schedule

The CPI(M) today questioned the Election Commission's decision to not announce the poll schedule for Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat simultaneously.
Though elections in the hill state will be held in a single phase on November 9 and results will be declared on December 18, the commission yesterday said the schedule for Gujarat will be announced separately.
"It is strange that the Election Commission has announced the date for the Himachal Pradesh assembly elections, while withholding the announcement of the date for the Gujarat assembly elections," the CPI(M) politburo said in a statement here.
The Left party said, "Usually when elections are due in multiple states, within a period of six months, the EC decides to combine dates for these states, and a joint statement is announced declaring the dates. This has been the practice followed so far."

The chief election commissioner has announced that the Gujarat polls "will be held before the results of the Himachal Pradesh elections are declared on December 18", it said.
"This is even stranger. If the Gujarat assembly elections are to be completed before December 18, then the Model Code of Conduct must be applicable to that state as well," the CPI(M) politburo said.