EC announces 5-phase election in Jharkhand, J&K; counting on December 23: As it happened

New Delhi: 4.30 pm: The Election Commission of India announces dates of assembly elections in states of Jammu & Kashmir and Jharkhand.

4.34 pm: The election for both the states to take place in 5 phases: November 25, December 2, December 9, December 14 and December 20. The counting in both poll-bound states is scheduled for December 23.

4.38 pm: Model code of conduct has come into force with immediate effect in both the states: EC.

The Election Commission will announce the dates for Jharkhand and Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections on Saturday.

Assembly elections in two sates - Jharkhand and Jammu and Kashmir - are scheduled to be held in 2014.

The elections in these states are keenly awaited by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which got a thumping victory in Maharashtra and Haryana Assembly elections.

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) is ruling Jharkhand with the Congress. The legislative assembly comprises 81 members. The last assembly election was held in December 2009.

The legislative assembly of Jammu and Kashmir comprises 87 members. The last assembly elections were held in 2008. Presently, the state is being run by a National Conference-Congress alliance.