Election Commission announces 7-phase elections from February 10; Punjab votes on February 14

Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, January 8

The seven-phase elections to five states—Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipur—will be held from February 10 to March 7. 

Votes will be counted on March 10.

EC bans public rallies, roadshows till January 15

As many as 690 seats are up for grabs in the elections with BJP to defend its governments in UP, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa, and the ruling Congress facing a tough challenge from AAP in Punjab. (See the complete schedule and photos of various phases in the images given below)

Announcing the poll schedules on Saturday, Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra said Uttar Pradesh (403 assembly seats) will witness seven-phase polling (February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27, March 3 and March 7).

Punjab (117 seats), Goa (40 seats), and Uttarakhand (70 seats) will vote in a single phase on February 14 and Manipur (60 seats) in two phases on February 27 and March 3.

The notification for elections in three states —Punjab, Goa and Uttarakhand—will be issued on January 21. 

The last date for filing nominations will be January 28. After scrutiny of nominations on January 29, the last date for withdrawal of candidature in Punjab, Goa, and Uttarakhand is January 31.

Phase 1 of UP poll will be notified on January 14, last date for filing nominations of January 21, scrutiny on January 24 and last date for withdrawal will be January 27; phase 2 (filing of nomination on Jan 28, withdrawal January 31); phase 3 (last date for filing nomination February 1, withdrawal February 4), phase 4 (last date of nominations on February 3, withdrawal on February 7), firth phase (last date of nominations February 8, withdrawal February 11), sixth phase (last date of filing nominations February 11, last date February 16), seventh phase (last date of nominations February 17, withdrawal on February 21).

UP elections will start from west Uttar Pradesh and go towards the east.

Manipur first phase notification will be issued on February 1, last date for filing nominations is February 8, last date for withdrawal of candidature is February 11. Corresponding dates for Manipur second phase poll are—February 4, February 11, and February 16.

The CEC said no roadshow, cycle, or bike rallies nor any physical rallies by parties and individuals can be held till January 15 after which the Covid protocol will be reviewed depending on the infection load.

India saw over 1.14 lakh new Covid cases—the highest in seven months—on Saturday.

CEC Sushil Chandra said there will be an absolute moratorium on physical rallies and road show till January 15. 

He said victory processions will not be allowed and only two people will be allowed to collect victory certificates.

Door-to-door campaigns will be allowed with only five people.

Maximum limit of people in rallies will be as per State Disaster Management Authority rules.

The EC has increased the expenditure limits for candidates to Rs 40 lakh.

HIGHLIGHTS

 —Seven phases of elections

—Covid protocol and safety made priority, says EC

 —Door-to-door campaigns limited to 5 people

 —No victory processions to be allowed 

 —No physical rallies, roadshows padyatra, cycle rallies or sabhas to be allowed till January 15. No physical rallies till January 15. 

—Polling booths to be fully sanitised

—All election officials and polling staff to be treated as frontline workers, to be double vaxxed, and eligible to be given "precautionary" doses. 

—Code of Conduct comes into immediately

—Postal ballot services for Covid+ patients

—Parties need to make public any criminal charges their candidate is facing. This information must be made public and the political parties need to explain why they chose such candidates 

—Online nomination option available 

— Polling stations to follow Covid protocol. Polling stations increased by 16 per cent to   2,15,368 to reduce the number of voters per polling station

—24.4 lakh new voters in five states

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