Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Jan 8: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced the dates for assembly polls in five states – Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur.
There will be 7 phases for elections in the five states.
First phase: February 10
Second phase: February 14
Third phase: February 20
Fourth phase: February 23
Fifth phase: February 27
Sixth phase: March 3
Seventh phase: March 7
There will be 7 phases in UP elections, 2 phases Manipur elections and 1 phase each in Punjab, Goa and Uttarakhand elections.
Counting of votes will be done on March 10.
The term of the current Uttar Pradesh assembly is ending in May, those of the other four assemblies are ending on different dates in the month of March.
The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in the poll-bound states have come into effect from today.
Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra on candidates with criminal cases said, “Mandatory publicity in newspapers and through TV on three occasions during the campaign period. Political parties have to give reasons why a candidate with criminal background was given a ticket.”
He said there will be more than one lakh polling stations in the five states. 60 per cent polling stations will have webcasting. Expenditure monitoring will be done.
Goa and Manipur will see an increase in expenditure to Rs 28 lakhs. Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Punjab will see an increase in expenditure to Rs 40 lakhs.
According to ECI norms, all officials on election duty have to be doubly vaccinated. All election officers who are eligible will also be given a booster dose as precaution.
“We have identified booths were historically voting has been low. Targeted intervention will be made by election officers now to increase voting percentage,” said Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra.
Aside from the election schedule, Covid-19 procedures were announced in the wake of an increase in the number of cases across India.
“We have to conduct elections in a way which saves voters and parties. Our first and foremost objective is Covid safe election. A lot of advanced planning and meticulous preparation has been done,” the CEC added.
Read here: ECI introduces new Covid-19 protocols for poll bound states
