The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday announced the date for Assembly elections of five States — Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Manipur, Goa and Uttarakhand. Seen as the critical popularity test for Prime Minister Narendra Modi post demonetisation, the elections will be held between February 4 and March 8 in these five States.
In Uttar Pradesh (403 Assembly seats) polling would be held in seven phases beginning February 11. The last phase of poll in UP will be held on March 8. Goa (40 constituencies) and Punjab (117 seats) will vote on February 4 while Uttarakhand (70 seats) will go to poll on February 15. Voting for 60 Assembly seats in Manipur would be held in two phases — March 4 and March 8. Counting for all States will be held on March 11.
Over 16 crore voters would be eligible to cast their votes for the 690 Assembly seats in the five States. Out of these, 133 are reserved for Schedule Caste and 23 for Schedule Tribe as per the delimitation order of 2008. Total 1.85 lakh polling stations has been set up, which are 15 per cent more than those set up in 2012 polls.
Addressing a Press conference, Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi said with the announcement of the poll dates on Wednesday, the Model Code of Conduct has came into immediate effect and will apply on political parties and State Governments concerned as well as on the Central Government in terms of announcements in these States. The Election Commission also limited the expenses for candidates to be spent during the election to Rs 28 lakh in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Rs 20 lakh for Manipur and Goa.
Zaidi said that the seven-phased UP Assembly polls for 403 constituencies will be held on February 11, 15, 19, 23, 27, March 4 and 8. The first phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections covering 73 constituencies in 15 districts will be held on February 11, while 67 constituencies spread over 11 districts will go to polls on February 15 in Phase II. Similarly, for Phase III covering 69 constituencies in 12 districts of the States, polls will be held on February 19 and Phase IV and Phase V will be held on February 23 and February 27, covering 53 and 52 constituencies respectively. Phase VI of UP polls covering 49 will be held on March 4 and the last phase covering 40 seats will be held on March 8.
The Assembly polls in UP will witness multi-corner contest as ruling Samajwadi Party, BJP, Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party are the main contenders here. The family feud and the split in ruling Samajwadi Party have injected a new dimension in the politics in Uttar Pradesh where BJP hopes to capture power after 14 years on the back of a sweep in lok Sabha elections in 2014. The BSP is the other main challengers, while Congress struggles to make it a quadrangular fight.
The Assembly polls in Punjab and Goa with 117 and 40 constituencies respectively, will be held on February 4 and the poll process will start on January 11 with the filing of nominations. In Punjab, the entry of AAP is trying to take on established powers like the ruling SAD-BJP combine and the Congress. In Goa, where BJP seeks to retain power, AAP plans to play spoilsport while the Congress is hopeful of staging comeback.
Uttarakhand will go to polls on February 15. After the sensational political developments in Uttarakhand in 2016, where Congress was temporarily dislodged from power due to defections, the party and BJP are set for a virtual direct fight on 70 seats. BJP ruled the State between its inception in 2000 till 2002, before making a comeback in 2007, only to lose the 2012 polls. The party has been targetting incumbent chief minister Harish Rawat for his alleged involvement in corruption cases. On other hand, ruling Congress has indicated that it might continue its alliance with the Progressive Democratic Front, which includes Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, BSP as well as the three independents.
Manipur, which is battling with blockade enforced by Naga groups, will have a two-day polling on March 4 (38 constituencies) and March 8 (22 seats). Here, the Congress seeks to retain power under Ibobi Singh. The blockade started after the Congress Government decided to create seven new districts in Manipur, a decision opposed by the United Naga Council (UNC).