New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) will hold a press conference in Delhi on Friday at Vigyan Bhawan. The EC is likely to announce the assembly election schedule for Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, ANI quoting sources reported. The term of the Gujarat Assembly ends on February 18 next year while that of Himachal Pradesh on January 8, 2023. 




A high-level team of the ECI led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar recently visited Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat to review poll preparedness.


After assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand, and Manipur, all eyes are on Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh as both states are set to go to polls before the end of this year.


The political parties have begun their aggressive campaigning to woo voters. The BJP is leaving no stone unturned to retain power, with the main opposition coming from the Congress, and new entrant AAP is also trying to dislodge the ruling dispensation.


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ABP-CVoter Survey Projections


To understand the mood of the voters ahead of the 2022 assembly election, ABP News teamed up with CVoter to conduct opinion polls in the election-bound states. 


Gujarat Election 2022


In Gujarat, the ruling BJP has retained power for over two decades and it appears to be comfortably crossing the majority mark this time also as the CVoter survey projected the party to secure 135 to 143 seats, out of the total 182. The Congress was a distant second at 36 to 44 seats while the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP is expected to secure 0 to 2 seats despite aggressive campaigning.


In terms of vote percentage, the BJP is projected to secure a 46.8% vote share in this election, followed by the Congress at 32.3%, and the AAP at 17.4%


Himachal Pradesh Election 2022


In Himachal Pradesh too, the ruling BJP is projected to win the polls with 37 to 45 seats, out of the total 68, coming to its kitty, while the Congress may secure 21 to 20 seats. While the ruling party can continue to remain in power, it may see a decline in its vote share. Meanwhile, as per the CVoter survey, the AAP does not appear to be a major player in the hill state as it is projected to win 0 to 1 seats.


In terms of percentage, the BJP is projected to secure a 45.2% vote share in this election, followed by the Congress at 33.9%, and the AAP can secure 9.5% of the votes.


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In 2017, Himachal Pradesh went to polls on November 9, while Gujarat exercised its franchise in two phases -- December 9 and 14.


The BJP has been in power in Gujarat since 1998 and the main opposition Congress came close to defeating it in the previous assembly elections in 2017.


In Himachal Pradesh, the BJP defeated the Congress in 2017 to come to power.