Elections in five states from February 10, Counting on March 10

The Election Commission of India on Saturday announced the dates of assembly elections in  five states=UP, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa. According to chief election commissioner Sushil Chandra polling will be held over seven phases starting in UP on February 10, with counting of votes scheduled for March 10.There are 619 constituencies that will go to polls and the decision has been taken after much deliberation, with all stakeholders, said Chandra. The commission also issued a strict advisory stating that political parties must focus on virtual rallies. It has also banned roadshows and physical rallies until January 15 in keeping with strict Covid-19 protocols. All electoral offences will be brought to the fore. The CEC added that all the violations will be dealt with by the chief secretary or the chief of the state disaster management authority. “We can’t say Corona is only because of the elections,” Chandra said. “We have ensured that most people are vaccinated. The situation is dynamic, we are monitoring it.”

Uttar Pradesh will vote in each of the seven phases - on February 10, February 14, February 20, February 23, February 27, March 3, and March 7.

Punjab, Goa, and Uttarakhand will vote on February 14.

Manipur will vote in two phases - on February 27 and March 3.

The BJP is in power in four of these states; the Congress is in power in Punjab.

The holding of timely election is the "essence of maintaining democratic governance, CEC Chandra said.  The Commission said it had decided to go ahead with the polls after detailed discussions with the Union Health and Home Secretaries, experts, and health officials of the concerned states. No rallies or political campaign events will be allowed between 8 pm and 8 am every day. All political parties have been urged to campaign digitally where possible, and limit activities in public. Door-to-door campaigning is limited to five people per campaigning team, EC press release said. Voting hours in all states have been extended by an hour and only 1,250 people will be allowed per both. To cope with the new norms, 30,000 new booths - an increase of about 16 per cent - will be set up. All polling stations will be equipped with sanitisers and staff will wear face masks,it said.

This time a total of 18.34 crore people, including service voters, will take part in this election. A total of 690 Assembly constituencies will vote over the next two months. A total of 1,620 polling stations will be manned by women staff. The Election Commission said all polling staffers will be doubly vaccinated and it has asked all state chief secretaries to accelerate vaccinations in their state. The commission has also increased the polling time by one hour in all states.