The Election Commission on Friday announced that elections to the Himachal Pradesh assembly will be held on 12 November.

The counting of votes will be on 8 December, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar told a press conference here.

Over 55 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise for 68 assembly seats in Himachal Pradesh, Kumar said. There are 1.86 lakh first-time voters, 1.22 lakh aged 80-plus and 1,184 voters who are above 100 years of age.

Himachal Pradesh has a 68-member assembly and the BJP had won a clear majority by winning 44 seats in the 2017 elections. The Congress managed to win 21 seats, Independents bagged two seats and the CPI(M) emerged victorious on one seat. In percentage terms, the BJP won 48.79 per cent of the total valid votes, followed by the Congress (41.68 per cent) and Independents (6.34 per cent).

The Commission however did not announce the elections for the Gujarat assembly, the term of which ends on 18 February 2023. The CEC said the Commission was following past precedence in keeping the announcing in abeyance the schedule for Gujarat assembly.

The Election Commission also said its teams will constantly monitor social media platforms to check fake news in the upcoming assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh and respond immediately as it asserted it will not hesitate in taking criminal action wherever required.

Announcing the dates for Himachal Pradesh assembly polls, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar said the panel has “established social media teams to keep strict vigil on fake news being spread during elections. Social media will be monitored constantly and any fake news would be acted upon immediately penal actions can be taken too”.

Addressing a press conference, Kumar said keeping in view increasing incidents of “misuse of social media”, social media platforms agreed to observe Voluntary Code of Ethics formulated by them in March 2019.

Citing an example of fake news about EVMs during elections, Kumar said the commission works so hard to conduct free and fair polls and then a particular news comes up and all leads to all kind of narratives.

“Social media would be monitored. They (teams) all have been directed to respond immediately before it gets the traction… It becomes explosive. And if 30 minutes have gone then there is no point in answering this because damage is done. They have all been asked to be very very vigilant and respond with facts,” he said while responding to a question on social media.

He further said teams have been instructed to respond immediately.

“If they can’t respond with facts in 15-20 minutes then reply by saying we have seen this we are finding facts and we will come back. So that they join that thing immediately and they break that cycle, before it goes out of hands,” Kumar added.

On the question of action, the CEC said, “There are criminal action possibilities which originate out of various legislative frameworks under the IPC and under the various acts we will not hesitate in taking those action, wherever IPC or other section violation is involved. We have made it clear to everybody and we will enforce this.”

Kumar said the commission also requests all political parties and candidates to ensure that their supporters “do not indulge in hate speeches and fake news.” And also keep strict watch on social media posts to ensure that the election atmosphere is not vitiated.

He also added that media can also play an active role in curbing the menace of fake news.