Polling in Gujarat likely to conclude in first week of December; Counting likely on Dec 8

By Japan K Pathak, Gandhinagar: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has today announced the schedule of State assembly election of Himachal Pradesh. While polling will take place on 12 November in Himachal, the date of counting shall be 8 December. This gap of few weeks between polling and counting dates has been kept in order to prevent influence of Himachal results on Gujarat polling.

Though ECI has not announced the dates of Gujarat polls today, if we go by convention, the counting date of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh polls was same in the case of previous assembly elections of year 2017 and even in 2012. This was done to prevent the results of Himachal Pradesh to influence the voting in Gujarat. So going by that logic and convention, the counting for Gujarat polls this year may take place on December 8 itself possibly.

In 2017, the counting date for both Himachal and Gujarat polls was same – 18th of December. Even in 2012, the counting date was same – 20th December. If counting of votes for Gujarat polls is scheduled on matching date this time also, then it shall be on 8 December along with Himachal.

In order to prevent Gujarat polls to be influenced by Himachal result, polling in Gujarat will anyway be concluded before 8 December. In 2017, polling in Gujarat took place on 9th and 14th of December in two phases. This time, polling will in possibilities conclude before 8 December. DeshGujarat