Assembly Elections 2022: 5 states will vote over seven phases starting February 10. (File)
Assembly elections in Punjab will be held on February 20, the Election Commission said today. The date has been changed from February 14 after political parties requested the Election Commission to factor in Guru Ravidas Jayanti celebrations.
Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi in a letter to the Election Commission had suggested the assembly polls should be deferred by at least six days after representatives of the Scheduled Castes community, which comprises 32 per cent of Punjab's population, told him that a large number of people from the community would visit Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh from February 10 to 16 and so may not be able to vote. The birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas is on February 16.
Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwalt today said that his party's chief ministerial candidate for Punjab assembly polls will be announced tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who arrived at the Goa airport early on Monday after meeting BJP leaders in the national capital said that the final list of candidates for the assembly elections will be announced on January 19.
"I met party leaders to discuss the ensuing assembly elections. The final list of candidates will be announced on January 19," said the Goa Chief Minister.
Here are the highlights on Assembly Election 2022:
Election Commission Listened To People's Voice By Deferring Punjab Polls: Navjot Sidhu
Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu on Monday welcomed the decision of the Election Commission to postpone the Punjab assembly elections from February 14 to 20 and said that the poll panel has respected the voice of the people of the state. "When a huge number of people make a demand which is related to their religion and the Election Commission of India listens to them, it becomes a decision that respects and honours the voice of the people," Mr Sidhu told ANI after addressing a press conference in Amritsar.
Ittehad-e-Millat Council, UP's Regional Political Outfit, Extends Support To CongressIttehad-e-Millat Council, a regional political party of Uttar Pradesh seen as having considerable influence over Muslims of the Barelvi sect, on Monday extended its support to the Congress in all the five poll-bound states. The support was extended by the outfit chief Tauqir Ahmed Raza Khan on Monday following which UP Congress chief Ajay Kumar Lallu thanked him. Read
here Poll Body Issues List Of Those Who Can Cast Vote Through Postal Ballot In 5 StatesThe Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a list of those persons working in essential services who can cast vote in upcoming assembly elections through postal ballot in five states, reported ANI.
The ECI has allowed media persons authorised by it to exercise their franchise using the postal ballot facility for the upcoming assembly elections in Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa.
The commission in a letter to Chief Electoral Office of Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa said that media persons authorized by it for poll coverage day can cast their votes through postal ballot facility.
Ex Goa Congress Chief Hints At Rejoin, Says Joining Trinamool Ahead Of Polls A "Mistake"Weeks after he walked out of the Congress fold, joined the Trinamool Congress and quit it a day before without assigning any reason, former Goa Congress working president Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco on Monday hinted at rejoining his parent party.
He has apologised to his supporters and well-wishers for committing the "mistake" of joining the Mamata Banerjee-led party ahead of the next month's Assembly polls.
Support Manohar Parrikar's Son In Goa Polls, Urges Sena's Sanjay RautNon-BJP parties must support Manohar Parrikar's son Utpal Parrikar if he contests next month's Goa election, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut appealed today in a tweet, calling it a "true tribute" to the BJP veteran.
Utpal Parrikar, who is in his father's party BJP, is reportedly upset over hints that the party plans to field former minister Atanasio "Babush" Monserrate from Panaji, the seat held by Manohar Parrikar for 25 years. He has talked about contesting as an independent candidate, if it comes to that.
"Ban On Samajwadi Party But BJP Candidate...": Akhilesh Yadav's SwipeAkhilesh Yadav - whose Samajwadi Party was served an Election Commission notice last week for violating Covid safety protocols - today tweeted a video of a BJP MLA holding a roadshow - also in violation of the rules - in Uttar Pradesh's Amroha ahead of next month's election.
A frustrated Mr Yadav demanded the top poll body act uniformly against all parties that disobey Covid protocols as announced both by the government and itself.
"There is a complete ban on the office and programmes of the Samajwadi Party... but the Chief Minister 'who has a few days left' - a swipe at Yogi Adityanath losing the election - and the BJP candidate from Amroha are openly making fun of the Model Code and Covid guidelines," he said.
Uttarakhand Minister Sacked Amid BJP Infighting Ahead Of PollsJust weeks ahead of the Uttarakhand assembly elections, the BJP on Sunday expelled Harak Singh Rawat, a minister in the state government, from the party following more than a month of internal wrangling.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami has also written to the governor about removing Mr Rawat from the cabinet, party leaders said.
The BJP has removed Mr Rawat from its primary membership for six years for anti-party activities, according to them.