Gujarat Election 2022: Candidates Will Have To Advertise Criminal Records Thrice, Says EC

Gujarat Assembly Election 2022: 51,782 polling stations will be set up in 182 assembly constituencies, said CEC Rajiv Kumar.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar at the virtual meeting (Source: File photo/PTI)

New Delhi: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar held a press conference and said "So far 4.83 crore electors are registered in Gujarat", as reported by news agency ANI. "Political parties have to give justification if they chose a candidate with criminal antecedents. Such candidates will have to advertise thrice about their criminal records so that citizens can take informed decisions," said Rajiv Kumar on Gujarat Assembly polls preparedness.

He said that there are about 4.83 crore registered voters in Gujarat. 51,782 polling stations will be set up in 182 assembly constituencies. 

He also said, "If someone is not able to come to the poll booth to vote, we will go home and collect votes. The complete voting procedure will be videographed. In fact, representatives of all political parties can be present."

"This time we are focusing on senior citizens, disabled people, women and first-time voters. Participation of every voter is necessary," CEC Rajiv Kumar said on Tuesday.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and EC Anoop Chandra Pandey reached Gujarat today and held a meeting with the enforcement agencies today to review the election preparedness for the temptation-free and smooth conduct of the upcoming assembly elections in Gujarat. Election preparations in Gujarat have also been reviewed by the Election Commission.

CEC Sh Rajiv Kumar & EC Sh Anup Chandra Pandey holds meeting with enforcement agencies today to review poll preparedness for inducement free & smooth conduct of forthcoming assembly elections in #Gujarat. #ECI https://t.co/9pJaGkAp8I pic.twitter.com/kFs4gd3x07

— Election Commission of India #SVEEP (@ECISVEEP) September 27, 2022

Meanwhile, BJP state president CR Patil on Monday indicated that the Gujarat Assembly elections would be completed by the end of November. 

In 2017, the first phase of polling in Gujarat was held on 9 December, while the second phase of polling was held on 14 December and the counting of votes was done on 18 December.

Gujarat Assembly elections schedule is likely to be announced in October this year, sources informed ABP News. The Gujarat assembly election is expected to be concluded by end of the November 2022.

The elections to the 182-member Gujarat Assembly, which has been ruled by the BJP for over two decades, are due in December this year.