New Delhi: The Election Commission of India on January 8 announced the dates of the upcoming Assembly elections in five poll-bound states, namely, Punjab, Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, Goa, and Uttarakhand. The poll schedule and dates were announced by Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra along with ECs Anup Chandra Pandey and Rajiv Kumar.
The Election Commission has made it mandatory for political parties to upload on their website detailed information regarding individuals with pending criminal cases who have been selected as poll candidates. They will also have to give a reason supporting the selection of such candidates.
CEC Sushil Chandra said, “The decision to hold the general elections to the five state assemblies was taken after much deliberations, adding that delaying the assembly polls would have been undemocratic.
The Election Commission will not interfere in the presentation of the Budget, which is an annual exercise for the whole country.
Senior citizens above 80 years of age, persons with disabilities, and COVID-19 patients can vote by postal ballot.
Polls will be held in a total of seven phases for the five states. Uttar Pradesh will go to the polls in seven phases, Manipur in two, the rest in a single phase.
UP elections will begin from February 10; Goa, Uttarakhand, and Punjab on February 14, and Manipur from February 27. Polls will end on March 7, with the last phase (seventh phase) of UP polls 2022 being held on that day.
Vote counting will be done on March 10.
- Manipur will go to polls in two phases – first phase on February 27, second phase on March 3.
- Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa will go to polls in a single phase on February 14 said CEC.
- Uttar Pradesh polls first phase on February 10, second phase on February 14.
No roadshows, padyatras, cycle or bike rallies and processions will be allowed till January 15; the situation will be reviewed and fresh instructions will be issued by the EC later.
Physical rallies, if allowed by the Election Commission, will have to follow COVID-19 protocols.
In view of the COVID-19 pandemic situation, the Election Commission has asked all parties to conduct virtual rallies and cancel all roadshows.
No victory processions will be allowed either, the EC added.
