CPI(M)  Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on October 13, 2017

IT is strange that the Election Commission has announced the date of election for Himachal Pradesh assembly while withholding the announcement of date for Gujarat assembly elections. 

Usually when elections are due within a period of six months, these states are combined and a joint announcement used to be made. This has been the practice followed so far. The model code of conduct is now enforced for Himachal Pradesh but not for Gujarat.  The chief election commissioner has announced that the Gujarat polls will be held before the results of Himachal Pradesh elections are declared on December 18.  This is even stranger if Gujarat assembly elections are to be completed before December 18, then the model code of conduct must be applicable to that state as well.