Election Commission to announce Gujarat poll schedule today at 1 pm

The Election Commission of India (ECI) will announce the poll schedule for Gujarat assembly elections on Wednesday afternoon.

The term of the 182-member Gujarat assembly gets over on January 23 next year.

The poll panel has been under attack from opposition parties for not having announced the dates for Gujarat Assembly elections along with Himachal Pradesh.

The opposition has been alleging that by 'delaying' the announcement of the Gujarat polls, the EC was giving time to the BJP government in the state and at the Centre to sidestep the provisions of the model code and offer sops to the electorate to swing votes in favour of the saffron party.

However, Chief Election Commissioner A K Joti had defended the decision, saying that multiple factors including the weather, flood relief work and festivities were considered before taking a call on election dates.

Meanwhile, the Gujarat government on Tuesday made one more package of announcements extending benefits to farmers, tribal people, contractual employees and government Asha workers.

Deputy Chief Minister announced that GST on tools for micro-irrigation would be waived off totally, while the perks and emoluments of contractual employees and Asha Workers have been increased.

The sops are seen as another attempt to win voters before the Assembly polls.