New Delhi, September 21: The Election Commission of India (ECI) is all set to announce the dates for  Maharashtra and Haryana assembly elections on Saturday, i.e. September 21. According to a tweet by ANI, the poll body will announce the dates at 12 noon today. The voting in both the states is likely to be held in October this year.

Once the Election Commission announces the dates today, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) will come into force in both states- Maharashtra and Haryana. It must be noted that while the MCC is in place, the current government in the states cannot make any fresh announcements, roll out out new schemes or influence the voters in any manner using its authority of office.

During the last assembly elections in Maharashtra and Haryana in the year 2014, the poll panel had announced the dates on September 12. The voting had taken place on October 15 and results were out by October 19.  Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2019: Shiv Sena Firm on Contesting 135 Seats.

In 2014, the Congress faced a major setback in Maharashtra while the BJP won with a thumping majority on 122 seats in a 288 seat-Assembly. The BJP formed the government in alliance with Shiv Sena, which had won 63 seats. BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis was then made the Chief Minister of Maharashta as Congress leader and the then Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan failed to make a comeback in 2014.

Meanwhile in Haryana, the last assembly polls were held on October 15, 2014 to elect 90 members of the Haryana Legislative Assembly. The results were announced on 19 October where the BJP won the majority in the Assembly with Manohar Lal Khattar as the new Chief Minister of the state. The four major parties contested the election - the Indian National Congress (INC, incumbent), the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC).

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 21, 2019 08:23 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).