Live Updates: Election Commission To Announce Dates for Polls in Haryana, Maharashtra Today

The Election Commission is set to announce dates of Assembly election in Maharashtra and Haryana today on September 21, 2019. The poll panel has convened a press conference for 12 pm. Notably, while the term of 288-member Maharashtra assembly ends on November 9 and the 90-member Haryana assembly expires on November 2.

Election Commission To Announce Dates for Polls in Haryana

With the announcement at noon, the election process will officially begin in the two northern Indian states, and the Model Code of Conduct will come into force as soon as the poll panel’s press conference will conclude. The MCC puts into place certain restrictions on political parties, candidates and the ruling government to ensure free and fair elections. Among other things, the MCC makes it difficult for the ruling dispensation to announce freebies and schemes that may affect voter sentiments. This is to deny the ruling party the opportunity to sway voters by virtue of their position, something the opposition parties cannot achieve.

Reportedly, a poll panel meeting was convened to take a final call on Assembly poll dates on Friday. The meeting was attended by the officials of the two-state Election Commissions.

According to the reports, the election in Haryana will be conducted in a single phase, while in Maharashtra in two phases.

As per the EC sources, the notifications for polls to Haryana and Maharashtra will come first, while the dates for Jharkhand Assembly elections will be announced later. The reason behind the Jharkhand Assembly polls to go later is that it may involve several phases due to the Left-wing extremism threat and deployment of forces.

Earlier this week, the Election Commission had ruled out the use of ballot papers in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, terming them “history” and defended EVMs, saying these machines cannot be tampered with.

As per the latest update from the press conference, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora also said the Assembly poll expenditure limit of candidates cannot be changed for now.

He also said that more central armed forces would be deployed in Left-wing extremism-affected areas of the state. Arora said, “Movement of central forces from one place to another is a significant factor in deciding polling dates.” Arora also stressed on increasing efforts to raise voting percentage in the ensuing Assembly polls.

He further added that the general police forces will be deployed in both the states with the adequate deployment of central armed forces in Maharashtra.

CEC Sunil Arora announces the schedule of Assembly polls for both Maharashtra and Haryana:

The notification for both state – 27 September
Last date of nomination – 4 October
Scrutiny of nomination – 5 October
Last date of withdrawal of candidature – 7 October
Date of the poll – 21 October
Counting of votes – 24 October

As per the latest update, CEC Sunil Arora said that Assembly election in both Maharashtra and Haryana will be held in a single phase.


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