Team News Riveting
New Delhi, January 8
The Election Commission of India today announced the election schedules for Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur that will go to the polls in seven phases starting February 10.
Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa will go to the elections in one phase on February 14, polling will be held in Manipur in two phases on February 27 and March 3.
In Uttar Pradesh, elections will be held in seven phases from February 10 to March 10. The third and Fourth phase of election will be held on February 20 and 23. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.
Chief Election Commission Sushil Chandra said the campaign curfew had been imposed as part of preventive measures to deal with the COVID situation that would ban rally, public meeting, road show and other mass gathering.
In all, 690 assembly constituencies across the five states will go to the polls. Of it, 117 are in Punjab, 403 in Uttar Pradesh, 70 in Uttarakhand, 60 in Manipur and 40 in Goa. In these five states, 18.34 crore voters will exercise their franchise.
The election commission has set up 2.17 lakh polling booths, which is 16 per cent more compared to previous elections. Of it, 1620 will be manned exclusively by women. The polling timing has been extended by 1 hour. The commission has given online nomination facilities for the candidates but it is optional.
Chandra said the poll panel has given stress on three fronts, COVID safe elections, comfortable voting system to the voters and maximum turn out.
The elections are crucial for the ruling BJP which will defend its governments in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur to bolster its chances in the run-up to the 2024 general election.
The Congress will be fighting for political relevance having been left in power only in Punjab, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh on its own and in Maharashtra, Jharkhand in alliance.
