New Delhi: The election commission on Saturday took a press conference and announced the dates of assembly elections in the five poll bound states. Elections to be held for 403 assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh, 117 in Punjab, 70 in Uttarakhand 60 in Manipur and 40 in Goa. More than 18 crore voters, including over 8.5 crore women, will be eligible to vote in 5 state assembly polls says CEC Sushil Chandra.
Election Commission has asked parties to conduct virtual campaigns. They have not permitted any physical rallies till January 15. They have also asked to avoid victory processions after results. Parties to provide masks and follow covid protocols for physical rallies. CEC Sushil Chandra announced that the situation to be reviewed and fresh instructions to be issued later.
The commission has asked to take opinion of health experts taken to ensure Covid-safe elections.
Polls will be held in phases.
Phases Of Polling
Uttar Pradesh first phase on 10th Feb, Second on 14th Feb, Third on 20th Feb, Fourth On 23rd Feb, Fifth on 27th Feb, Sixth on 3rd March, Seventh on 7th March.
Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa polling will be held in single phase on Feb 14th.
Manipur will vote on 27th Feb and 3rd March.
Election counting will be starting from 10th March.
The politicians have welcomed the upcoming elections.
UP CM Yogi Adityanath welcomed the announcement. He Tweeted, “In the great festival of democracy, we welcome the announcement of the dates of the state elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party will be able to form a government with a thumping majority with the blessings of the Janata Janardan on the basis of the achievements of the double engine government.”
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal wishes good luck to all the candidates and hints that he is ready to fight from Goa. He tweeted, “My best wishes to all the candidates. Goa wants change.”
In a separate tweet, he states that AAP is ready for polls. He tweeted, “The dates for the elections have been announced. Aam Aadmi Party is ready.”
Samajwadi Chief Akhilesh Yadav tweeted and said that there will be a change in UP. He tweeted, “Inquilab will happen on 10th March
Uttar Pradesh will change.”
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi said that Congress will be fighting for the Youths, Farmers, Females, Businessmen, and for the Common man. She tweeted, ” On March 10, there will be a victory march for the youth, farmers, women, workers, traders and common people of UP.
In these elections, the Congress party will fight for the rights of youth, farmers, women, workers, traders and common people. “
TMC’s Abhishek Banerjee bats for no elections in the middle of third wave, says its personal opinion
TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee on upcoming state elections said, “Matter is subjudice so let the HC decide…and state govt and SEC will follow the guidelines given by HC…but if you want my personal opinion then I will everything should be stopped for the next two months, bet it any religious event of political campaign.”
“Elections are due in some states…the EC will take a final call but in areas where the positivity rate or situation (covid) is out of control, to hold elections and endanger people’s lives just to give satisfy one political party is not correct. Elections have a meaning only when people are alive. You all know what the condition Bengal was in during the second wave when eight phase polls were conducted. The positivity rate was as high as 40-45% during April-May (at the time of elections) …then it went down and has again gone up now due to Omicron. This is my personal opinion, and I feel everything can wait and we must all concentrate on saving the state and the society. When people are alive everything else will happen once again.”
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