7-phase election schedule declared in 5 states, poll to begin on 10 Feb & result on 10 March

Jan. 8: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced the poll schedule for Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab and Manipur today. The Assembly term of Uttar Pradesh will end in May, while the other states will see their term ending in March. A total of 18.34 crore electors including service voters will take part in this election out of which 8.55 crore are women electors, CEC Sushil Chandra said during the press briefing. The election in all the 5 states will be conducted in 7 phases.

Dates of polling:

• First Phase: Feb 10: UP
• Second Phase: Feb 14: UP, Punjab, Uttarakhand & Goa
• Third Phase: Feb 20: UP
• Fourth Phase: Feb 23: UP
• Fifth Phase: Feb 27: UP, Manipur
• Sixth Phase: March 3: UP, Manipur
• Seventh Phase: March 7: UP

Result to be declared on: 10 March

With the declaration of the poll schedule, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) comes into immediate effect in these 5 states, the Election Commission said.

Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra further said that all polling officials will be given precautionary dose. “All EC officials and employees to be treated like frontline workers and so they will be administered the booster dose, that is, the precautionary dose.

CEC Sushil Chandra also informed that cVIGIL application should be used by voters to report any incident of violation of the Model Code of Conduct, distribution of money and freebies etc. He informed that within 100 minutes of complaint, ECI officials will reach the place of offence.

All polling stations will be equipped with Covid-mitigation facilities including sanitisers and masks; number of booths increased. All roadshows and rallies were prohibited till 15 January. CEC urged upon the political parties to campaign using digital mediums and avoid physical mediums.