'We Are 100 Per Cent Impartial': Election Commission Refuses 'Bias' Towards Gujarat Poll Dates

The Election Commission of India (EC) on Thursday denied any kind of "bias" in announcing the dates of the Gujarat Elections that are scheduled on December 1 and December 5.  

The votes of the Gujarat polls will be counted on the same day as that of Himachal Pradesh although the EC waited for two weeks to announce the dates of the Gujarat Assembly Election. 

"The Election Commission's impartiality is a proud legacy. We are 100 per cent impartial," said Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, reported NDTV. He further added that the dates are very much within the schedule.

Earlier today, Congress had accused the top election body of partiality --- of not announcing the dates of the Gujarat Elections along with Himachal Pradesh. The opposition accused the EC of giving more time to PM Narendra Modi to complete his election campaign before the Model Code of Conduct came into place.

On allegations of a delay, Kuma said, "The tenure of the Gujarat assembly is till February 18, so there is still time. There is a 72-day gap between the counting day and the day the Gujarat assembly term gets over," reports NDTV.

Further, Kumar reiterated how several factors must be taken into consideration before rolling out election dates. "...Weather, the date of the last term of the assembly, the tradition of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh results together. We have to balance a lot of things. We are well within time," he said.

The EC on Thurꦅsday announced the much-awaited schedule of Gujara⛦t assembly elections.