The Election Commission (EC) on Friday announced single-phase Assembly elections in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Mizoram, and two-phase polls in Chhattisgarh.

The EC said Delhi and Mizoram will go to the polls on December 4, Madhya Pradesh on November 25, and Rajasthan on December 1. Elections will take place in Chhattisgarh on November 11 and 19.

Besides, by-elections in Surat West in Gujarat and Yercaud in Tamil Nadu will also be held on December 4.

The model code of conduct comes into effect immediately, it added.

Counting of votes will be taken up on December 8 in all the 630 constituencies across the five States, with a total electorate of about 11 crore.

In keeping with the Supreme Court order on September 27, the Election Commission will also give voters the NOTA (None Of The Above) option in the five States. It is taking steps to educate polling officers as well as voters in this regard, Chief Election Commissioner V.S. Sampath said at a press conference here.

To keep a strict vigil on expenditure, the EC will deploy flying squads and static and video surveillance teams with the help of excise and Income Tax departments, Sampath said. “Banks have also been asked to report any suspicious cash withdrawals and transactions,” he added. The term of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly ends on December 12, Mizoram on December 15, Delhi on December 17, Rajasthan on December 31 and Chhattisgarh on January 4, 2014.

Of the five States going to polls, Delhi, Rajasthan and Mizoram are ruled by Congress Governments, while Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are ruled by the BJP.

The stakes are high for both the national parties – BJP and Congress – as the results of the Assembly elections would indicate the mood of the people in the run up to General Elections, 2014.

The results of the Assembly elections will also reflect whether the ‘Modi factor’ is actually playing out in favour of the BJP.

>aditi.n@thehindu.co.in

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