The voting dates for the two-phase Manipur assembly elections have been changed, the Election Commission said today.
Voting for the first phase is on February 28, and the second phase is on March 5; earlier, voting was scheduled on February 27 and March 3.
Several tribal groups and political parties had asked the Election Commission to revise the voting dates since February 27, the first phase, fell on a Sunday, which would have affected church services.
Meanwhile, the first of the seven-phase polling in Uttar Pradesh -- said to be the semi-final before the general election of 2024 -- ended peacefully on Thursday. 60.17% people voted for the 58 seats in western UP, a shade lower than the 63.5% in 2017.
Here are the Highlights on Assembly Elections 2022:
He is already an established name as a Punjabi singer with his chart-bursting numbers. Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu aka Sidhu Moosewala, the Congress candidate from Mansa seat, now hopes to make his presence felt in the constituency.
Touted as a "youth icon" and an "international figure" by Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu when he joined the party in December, the 27-year-old singer is seen easily connecting with people of all ages, obliging especially the youth for selfies and taking blessing of elders during his campaign rounds.
The BJP has fielded a heavyweight in Karhal but this does not seem to bother the Samajwadi Party as people are still rooting for 'Ghar ka Ladka', local lad Akhilesh Yadav, reported PTI.
The BJP has declared Union minister of state SP Singh Baghel against Akhilesh in the Karhal assembly seat in Mainpuri district where voting will take place in the third phase on February 20.
Congress has not fielded its candidate against the Samajwadi Party chief while BSP has nominated a little known Kuldeep Narayan in the constituency.
Asserting that there is a silent wave in his favour, Utpal Parrikar, elder son of late Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar, who is contesting the February 14 Assembly election as an independent candidate from the Panaji seat, has said he was a favoured choice after his father's death in 2019, but was denied poll ticket by the BJP due to local politics.
On the BJP offering him three seats other than Panaji for next week's election, Mr Parrikar (41), a businessman, said the fight was "never for options".
Defence Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Rajnath Singh will address election meetings in Ghansali, Karnaprayag and Narendranagar Assembly constituencies in Uttarakhand on Friday.
"I shall be campaigning in Uttarakhand today ...shall address election meetings in Ghansali, Karnaprayag and Narendranagar Assembly constituencies. Look forward to it," Mr Singh said in a tweet on Friday morning.
Three-time Manipur Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition in the Manipur legislative assembly Okram Ibobi Singh today filed his nomination from his traditional Thoubal seat and said that this election will be a new chapter for Manipur, a chapter of change.
"I know the mindset of people of both hill and valley and I am sensing a mood for change and we will form the new government," the Congress leader told reporters.
A 71-year-old voter died shortly after casting his vote at a polling booth here on Thursday morning, police said.
Nathi Lal Baghel, a resident of Nagla Pipri, who had gone to cast his vote along with his nephew suddenly collapsed after coming out of the door of Shahpur polling booth near the village.
He was immediately rushed to the hospital where the doctors declared him dead, the Superintendent of Police of Mahavan area said.