CPM questions EC's decision to not announce Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls schedule simultaneously

New Delhi: The CPM on Friday questioned the Election Commission's (EC) 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 9 November and results will be declared on 18 December, the commission on Thursday said the schedule for Gujarat will be announced separately.[caption id="attachment_4139207" align="alignleft" width="380"]

Representational image. Reuters[/caption]"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 CPIM politburo said in a statement.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 18 December", it said."This is even stranger. If the Gujarat Assembly elections are to be completed before 18 December, then the Model Code of Conduct must be applicable to that state as well," the CPM politburo said.