Election Commission Announces Dates For Five State Assembly Polls

The Election Commission of India has announced the dates for for five state assembly elections—Goa, Punjab, Manipur, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. Besides, the commission also announced restrictions for campaigning in view of the surge in Covid-19 cases.

Polling for these states will take place over a total of seven phases between Feb. 2 and March 7, the Election Commission said in a press conference. Results for all five state elections will be announced on March 10.

Here are the dates for all five assembly elections:

Uttar Pradesh

Polls in India's most populous state will be held over 7 phases.

• First phase: Feb. 2, 2022

• Second phase: Feb. 14

• Third phase: Feb. 20

• Fourth phase: Feb. 23

• Fifth phase: Feb. 27

• Sixth phase: March 3

• Seventh phase: March 7

Manipur

• First phase: Feb. 27

• Second phase: March 3

Goa

• Polling date: Feb. 14

Punjab

• Polling date: Feb. 14

Uttarakhand

• Polling date: Feb. 14

Curbs On Physical Rallies

The Election Commission announced curbs on physical rallies and roadshows ahead of the election and urged political parties to do much of their campaigning through digital means.

Till Jan.15, 2022, no candidate will be allowed to hold a physical rally, roadshow, cycle or a bike rally, Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra said. The commission will review the situation subsequently and issue further instructions, he added.

• Even if physical rallies are subsequently allowed, they will be conducted in adherence to the Covid protocols.

• All attendees will have to be provided with masks and sanitisers by the political parties

• If guidelines are breached, EC will cancel the rally or not allow any further rallies by the party.

'Covid-Safe' Elections

The Election Commission also announced new protocols at polling booth to ensure that voters can safely come and exercise their democratic rights.

Chandra said that all officials on election duty will be fully vaccinated and also receive a precautionary booster dose. "They will be treated as frontline workers," he said.

All polling centres will also have to ensure that they have masks, sanitizers, gloves and thermal scanners available.

The EC has also reduced the number of maximum voters allowed at a polling centre to 1,250 from 1,500 earlier. As a result, the number of polling centres across the five states and 690 constituencies has been increased by 16% to over 2.15 lakh.