Election Commission announces Assembly Elections Schedule for Five States

The Election Commission of India today announced the schedule for the General Elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur. Elections will be held for 690 assembly seats in these states,  403 in UP, 117 in Punjab, 70 in Uttarakhand, 40 in Goa and 60 in Manipur, said Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra.

Assembly Poll Schedule

Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa will go to polls in a single phase on February 14^th.

Manipur will go to polls in two phases – first phase on February 27^th, second phase on March 3^rd.

Uttar Pradesh polls will be completed in seven phases with first phase on February 10^th, and last phase on March 7^th. (1st phase- 10th February, 2nd phase- 14th February, 3rd phase- 20th February, 4th phase- 23rd February, 5th phase- 27th February, 6th phase- 3rd March, 7th phase- 7th March)

Counting of votes will be done on March 10^th.

24.9 lakh electors will be voting for the first-time in the upcoming assembly elections to 5 states. A total of 18.34 crore voters will take part in this election out of which 8.55 crore are women. “At least one polling station exclusively for women to be setup in every assembly constituency”, said CEC.

Polls to be held with necessary Covid safety norms in place

As Covid cases rises in view of Omicron variant, ECI had earlier held meetings with Union Health Secretary & Home Secretary, medical experts & health secretaries of poll bound States before deciding to announce polls with necessary safety norms in place. ECI also bars physical roadshows, padayatra, rallies etc till January 15th.

Citing the latest surge in Covid-19 cases, the Congress has already announced that it would not hold any rallies in Uttar Pradesh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had also earlier cancelled some of its public events in the state.

Meanwhile, all public meetings and gatherings in Goa will now be limited to 50 per cent capacity for indoor venues and up to 100 people in outdoor venues, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced on Friday.