Dates for Assembly elections in five states - Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Manipur, Punjab, and Uttarakhand - were announced Saturday afternoon. The five states will vote over seven phases starting February 10, with counting of votes scheduled for March 10.
Uttar Pradesh will vote in each of the seven phases - on February 10, February 14, February 20, February 23, February 27, March 3, and March 7.
Punjab, Goa, and Uttarakhand will vote on February 14.
Manipur will vote in two phases on February 27 March 3.
A total of 690 Assembly constituencies will vote over the next two months, with the maximum in UP (403 seats) followed by Punjab (117), Uttarakhand (70), Manipur (60) and Goa (40).
The holding of timely election is the "essence of maintaining democratic governance," the Election Commission said today, clarifying its decision to go ahead with elections in five states amid a sweeping third wave of Covid driven by the Omicron variant.
The Commission said it had decided to go ahead with the polls after detailed discussions with the Union Health Secretary and Home Secretary, experts, and health secretaries of the concerned states.
To ensure safety, the Commission barred physical rallies and meetings till January 15, saying a review will be taken after that since the "ground situation is dynamic".
Elections in all five states will be held amid a massive surge in Covid cases across the country fuelled in part by the Omicron variant - this morning the Union Health Ministry reported over 1.41 lakh new infections in the previous 24 hours, an increase of 21 per cent from the day before.
Concern over the virus spreading further increased after political parties held mega rallies in poll-bound states. These rallies are attended by thousands (many without face masks) and social distancing is entirely absent for such events, which are understandably difficult to control.
On Friday top officials from the Election Commission and the Health Ministry met in Delhi to discuss polling and the Covid situation, news agency PTI reported. Among the measures discussed was double vaccination of all poll workers and voters.
Officials also met last week to discuss other measures, including extending voting times by an hour and setting up extra polling booths in UP - India's most populous state - to ensure social distancing.
Here are the Highlights on Election 2022 Date:
Soon after the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the dates of the upcoming assembly polls, former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Saturday said that the polls will decide the future of Punjab and urged people to participate "in the carnival of democracy" with full spirit while observing all COVID related protocols.
"Sooner the better. We are all set for the Big Day that will decide the future of Punjab. I appeal to the people to participate in the carnival of democracy with full spirit while at the same time observing all COVID related protocols," he said in a tweet.
Amarinder Singh-led Punjab Lok Congress had announced an alliance with the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-Sanyukt.
Elections for the 403 assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases starting February 10, the Election Commission said today, announcing the polling dates in five states. The majority of phases will be in February, when the third wave of Covid is expected to peak.
The polling dates will be February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27, March 3 and 7. The counting of votes will take place on March 10, the Election Commission said.
To ensure safety, the Election Commission has banned all physical rallies and meetings till January 15, saying the decision will be reviewed after that in view of the "dynamic" ground situation.
Political parties will have to compulsorily explain the reasons behind the selection of candidates with a criminal past, said the Election Commission today, adding that "winnability" as reason alone will not suffice.
The poll body made it clear that the parties will have to publish information about the candidates.
"It is mandatory for political parties to upload on their website detailed information regarding individuals with pending criminal cases selected as poll candidates. They will also have to give a reason to select the candidate," said Sushil Chandra, the Chief Election Commissioner.
Goa will vote to elect its new government on February 14, the Election Commission announced today, adding that the coastal state will vote in a single phase. The results will be out on March 10. The Pramod Sawant-led BJP is trying to retain power amid a multi-cornered contest across 40 seats.
Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress is one of the new entrants in the state - it has allied with former BJP ally Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), attempting to expand its footprint.
Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party is another party trying its fortune in the state election. Former BJP ministers Mahadev Naik, Alina Saldanha and lawyer-turned-politician Amit Palekar were in the party's first list of candidates.
Congress, which was the first party to put out its first candidates' list, has tied up with the Goa Forward Party. However, it has been facing desertions in the state.
Elections for the 403 assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases starting February 10, the Election Commission said today. The elections will be held till March 7.
The counting of votes will take place on March 10, the Election Commission said
Video conferencing, Digital media -- we have increased the expenditure limit. candidates and parties should make maximum use of the digital platform.
No parties have demanded for EAST to WEST polling
Advisory issued --- to all parties and others
Any violation of laws, poll conduct, FIRs to be lodged and dealt with.
Poll officers to arrange for voters who are at difficult terrains. Make booths are areas that are easily reachable by voters
Polling Officials to be doubly vaccinated. booths will be sanitised. Voters should come prepared with all covid measures. maintain social distancing
Any violation of covid norms --- Action to be taken against anyone and everyone who do not abide by them.
Punjab will vote in a single phase on February 14 in the assembly elections. Votes will be counted on March 10. The Election Commission today announced the schedule for polls in five states, including Goa, Manipur, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
The election will start from UP on February 10. Voting will be held in UP in all the seven phases.
The voting for the 60 seats of the Manipur assembly will be conducted in two phases on February 27 and March 3, the Election Commission Of India (ECI) announced on Saturday. The counting of the votes will be held on March 10.
The tenure of Manipur Legislative Assembly is scheduled to end on 19 March this year.
1st phase- 10th Feb
2nd phase- 14th Feb
3rd phase- 20th Feb
4th phase- 23rd Feb
5th phase- 27th feb
6th phase- 3rd March
7th phase- 7th March
Results 10th march
Polling to start in Uttar Pradesh from February 10
Second phase of polling in UP and single-day polling for Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa on February 14
Uttar Pradesh to go to poll in 7 phases from 10th Feb to 7th March; Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa to vote on 14th February & Manipur to vote on 27th Feb & 3 March
Counting of votes on 10th March: Election Commission of India
Uttarakhand - where the BJP changed its Chief Ministers in quick succession last year to offset any electoral loss - votes on February 14 to elect a new Chief Minister for the 70-member state assembly. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.
Other states going to polls are Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Manipur, the Election Commission announced today.
In Uttarakhand, no party has managed to win back-to-back polls.
Media communicates our message to public and motivates them to vote
Social media is also important
Commission is engaged in SM since 2019
Candidates to ensure -- No hate speeches
Any one indulging into this to face harsh consequences
Commision will not hesitate in cancelling rallies if Covid protocols violated
No road show/pad-yattra/rally to be held till 15th Jan
No Nukkad sabhas on public roads
No Victory procession after the counting
Only two people will be allowed
Parties to give masks and sanitisers for political meets
Door to door Campaign -- only 5 people
Polling time increased by an HOUR in all states
All voters, candidates, parties, to be conscious towards public health --- COVID protocols
candidates to conduct campaign through virtual mode, as much as possible
detailed guidelines will be issued --
Assembly Elections 2022: 15 crore in these 5 states have first dose
All officials on duty -- To be treated as frontline workers, precautionary and booster doses is a must for them
Full sanitation at all polling booths
- Inform about Voter safety
- Inform about voter security
- First time voters -- given letter and informe them about the process
Any violation to be strictly dealt with.
EVM's VVPATS to be utilised
One polling station manged by women --- exclusively set at each polling station
18.34 crore voters in all the five states
8.55 crore are women
Emphasis on women's participation in the electoral process
1 polling both in each tribal assembly constituency to be staffed only with women officials
- Covid safe election
- Hassle free
- Maximum voter participation
Commission visited poll-bound states and discussed with political parties to take stock of the poll preparedness. "We also met health secretary, union home secretary," says Mr Chandra.
