New Delhi, October 6: The Congress has yet again raised questions on the independence of the Election Commission of India (ECI), claiming that the timing of Assembly Elections 2018 Dates announcement was changed by the poll body to accommodate Prime Minister Narendra Modi's election rally in Rajasthan. Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted on Saturday shortly after the EC announced a press conference at 3 pm today to announce poll dates for Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Telangana. Assembly Elections 2018 Dates Likely to be Announced by Election Commission For Polls in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram And Telangana Today.

Surjewala tweeted, "3 Facts- Draw your own conclusions. ECI announces a PC at 12.30 today to announce election dates to the 5 states. PM Modi is addressing a rally in Ajmer, Rajasthan at 1 PM today. ECI suddenly changes the time of announcement and PC to 3 PM. Independence of ECI?"

Surjewala's Tweet

This is not the first time that the Congress has posed questions over the independence of the ECI. The Congress had questioned the ECI over schedule announcement during the Gujarat Assembly Elections too, which was made soon after Modi announced reforms in the state.

The Election Commission is set to announce the dates of the Assembly Elections 2018 in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram today. The schedule will be announced for the state polls in a press conference at 3 pm on Saturday. However, there is no clarity on whether dates for the Telangana Assembly Elections 2018 will be announced today or not.

The elections in the four states are likely to be held in November-December 2018. As soon as the dates are announced, the Model Code of Conduct will come into place in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Telangana. The elections will set pace for the Lok Sabha Elections 2019.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 06, 2018 11:31 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).