The Election Commission of India is likely to announce the dates to the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections at 4 pm on Thursday. Earlier this week, Chief Election Commissioner AK Joti had said the Gujarat polls will, “without doubt”, be held in December this year. The tenure of the Gujarat Assembly term ends on January 22, 2018, while Himachal’s House ends on January 7, 2018.

“There is no doubt the (Gujarat) polls will be held in December,” Joti said, during a press conference on Tuesday. When asked if it will be held in two phases, he added that it was yet to be decided.

The strength in the 182-member Gujarat House currently comprises 115 BJP MLAs, 61 from the Congress, two from the NCP, and one from JD(U).

Himachal Pradesh Assembly

The Congress has 36 seats in the 68-member Himachal Pradesh Assembly, while BJP has 26. The Himachal Lokhit Party had won 1 seat while Independents bagged 5. The Congress announced Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh as the party’s chief ministerial candidate last week. He has served as chief minister for six terms. The election is seen as crucial for the Congress, as the state is one of its few strongholds in the country.

The poll panel has convened a press conference to announce the schedule, reported news agency PTI.

We will get you LIVE updates from the Election Commission’s press conference at 4 pm this afternoon.