Counting of votes in Gujarat would be taken up on December 23, while in Himachal Pradesh it would be on December 28. Electronic voting machines will be deployed.

The term of the 182-member Assembly in Gujarat expires on December 26 and the 68-member House in Himachal Pradesh on March 9 next year.

Announcing the election schedule, Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami told a press conference that the model code of conduct would come into force immediately and it would be applicable to all candidates, political parties, the state governments concerned and the union government.

The elections in Gujarat will be the second to be held after the post-Godhra violence of early 2001 and the Chief Election Commissioner gave an assurance that the people belonging to minority community still living in camps will be enabled to exercise their franchise without fear.

Asked why elections in Gujarat were being held only in two phases while it was a case of multi-phased in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, he said the requirement and approach in deployment of paramilitary forces was ‘different’.

In Himachal Pradesh, the snow-bound constituencies of Kinnaur, Bharmour and Lahaul-Spiti will be held before the rest of the state as the mountain passes in these areas usually close down in November 15 due to winter and snowfall and become inaccessible.