HP people in favour of Congress; tired of Modi govt.: Sushil Shinde

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], October 12 (ANI): Congress' General Secretary in-charge for Himachal Pradesh Sushil Shinde on Thursday said that people of the state are in favour of the Congress Party because they are tired of Prime Minister Narendra Modi government.

"Already prepared for the elections. At the ground level, people are in favour of the Congress because they are tired of Prime Minister Modi government," he told ANI.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) today announced that Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections will be held on November 9.

Addressing a press conference, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India Achal Kumar Jyoti said, "Himachal Pradesh assembly elections will be held on November 9 and counting of votes will be held on December 18."

Model code of conduct for Himachal Pradesh assembly election comes into effect from now itself, said the CEC.

The term of the 68-member Himachal Pradesh Assembly ends on January 7, 2018.

The Election Commission has also taken few steps to conduct free and fair elections.

The Election Commission has now increased the screen size of VVPAT (voter verified paper audit trail) machines and announced VVPAT, along with Electronic Voting Machines (EVM), will be used to conduct elections.

"The Election Commission has increased the size of screen on VVPAT (Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail) machines to 10 cm by 5.6 cm for the voters to able to verify their vote easily. The height of voting compartments will be increased to 30 inches," said CEC Jyoti.

He further added that for the first time Himachal Pradesh will have 136 all women managed booths.

The Election Commission has also changed election advertisement criteria.

"Bulk SMSes and voice messages on phone shall also be in purview of election advertisements," said CEC Jyoti. (ANI)