Election Commission to announce poll dates for upcoming assembly elections

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission is set to announce dates for assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa today.
As of now, the commission plans to hold seven-phased assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh and single-phased in the other states.

But with situation in Manipur assuming alarming proportions, the poll body may go for multiple phases in the north-eastern state. But there is no official word on it yet.

The Election Commission on Tuesday held a meeting with chief electoral officers of poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa to fine tune the arrangements.

The law and order situation in Manipur due to road blockade by some Naga groups was the focus of attention of the commission in Tuesday's meeting, sources said.
Meanwhile, the Union home ministry will provide around 85,000 security personnel for deployment in the upcoming assembly elections in the five states.

In addition, around 100 companies, most of which belong to State Armed Police Forces and India Reserve Battalions, will also be drawn from different states for deployment of election duties.

A company of paramilitary force comprises of around 100 personnel.