Assembly polls for five states in January-March

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Saturday announced the schedule for five poll-bound states of Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Goa and Uttar Pradesh. Assembly polls in Punjab and Uttarakhand will be held on January 30 whereas that of Manipur will be held on January 28.

Polls in Uttar Pradesh will be held in 7 phases in the month of February. The seven phases are on February 4, 8, 11, 15, 19, 23 & 28. Polls in Goa will be held on March 03.

Counting of votes in all five states will be held on March 04. Polls will be held in 403 constituencies in UP, 70 in Uttarakhand, 117 in Punjab, 40 in Goa & 60 in Manipur.

Chief Election Commissioner, S Y Quraishi, said that the Model Code of Conduct will come into effect immediately.

The poll body yesterday held discussions with Home Secretary R K Singh on the availability of para-military forces for the assembly polls in the five states.

Around 80,000 paramilitary personnel, apart from state policemen, are expected to be deployed during the polls.

The Home Ministry conveyed to the Election Commission that it was ready to provide 700 to 800 companies (70,000-80,000 personnel) of paramilitary forces for deployment in the five states.

Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa saw relatively less violence in the past elections. However, Manipur, which has been plagued by insurgency for a long time, may need heavy deployment of forces to ensure peaceful polling.