EC announces poll schedule for five states

Assembly elections will be held in Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram and Chhattisgarh from November 11, the Election Commission announced on Friday.

While Chhattisgarh will have a two-phase polling on November 11 and November 19, the remaining states will have a single-phase poll.

Delhi and Mizoram will go to polls on December 4, Madhya Pradesh on November 25 and Rajasthan on December one.     Counting for all the five states will take place on December 8, Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath told a press conference here.

For the first time, voters will have an option of 'none of the above' (NOTA) in these polls where they can decide not to vote any of the candidates in the fray.

Sampath said there were 11 crore voters spread over 630 constituencies in these five states. Voting will take place in 1.30 lakh polling stations, the CEC said, adding the Model Code of Conduct comes into effect immediately. Replying to a question on disqualification of convicted MPs, he said the Election Commission will announce vacancies only after they are notified by Rajya Sabha Chairman and Lok Sabha Speaker.

The first phase of polls in Chhattisgarh will be held on November 11 for which the notification will be issued on October 18. The last date of filing nominations will be October 25 and the last date of withdrawal will be October 28. Scrutiny of nominations will take place on October 26.     The second phase of elections will take place on November 19 for which the notification will be issued on October 25. While nominations can be filed till November 1, scrutiny will be held on November 2. The last date of withdrawal is November 4.For the November 25 poll in Madhya Pradesh, the notification will be issued on November 1. The last date of filing nominations is November 8. While scrutiny will take place on November 9, nominations can be withdrawn till November 11.

In Rajasthan, where the elections will be held on December 1, the notification will be issued on November 5. While November 12 is the last date of filing nominations, they can be withdrawn till November 16. In between, the scrutiny of the nominations will be carried out on November 13.

In Delhi and Mizoram, the elections will be held on December 4. The notification for assembly polls in both the states will be issued on November 9. The nominations can be filed till November 16 and scrutiny will take place on November 18. The last date of withdrawing from the electoral race is November 20