EC announces dates for assembly polls; Dec 8 counting day

The Election Commission has announced dates for the assembly elections in four states and the national capital. The Chief Election Commissioner announced that polling in Chhatisgarh will be in two phases. First phase of polling will be held on 11 November and the second will be held on 19 November.

Madhya Pradesh will hold polls on 25 November and Rajasthan will hold polling on 1 Dec.

Delhi and Mizoram will hold polls on 4 December.

Counting will be held for all 5 on 8 December.

These assembly elections are being touted as the semi-finals before the country's general elections in April-May 2014. The Congress has been out of power in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh for 10 long years with the BJP ruling there since 2003.

In Delhi, Sheila Dikshit has created a record of being the longest serving woman Chief Minister in independent India.

In the Delhi assembly polls, she is seeking a fourth term. Her opposition now includes not just the BJP but also the Aam Aadmi Party. Rajasthan, where the Congress is in power, has witnessed a keen tussle with BJP over the years. The Congress is also the ruling party in Mizoram.

(With additional information from PTI)