The Election Commission of India has announced the dates for the Assembly elections in five states -- Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Manipur, Uttarakhand and Goa.
The terms of the legislative assemblies of Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur are ending in mid-March, while the Uttar Pradesh assembly's term would expire in May.
As per the law, elections to the legislative assembly of a state must be held -- and new assembly formed -- well before its term expires.
The Election Commission had last week asked the five poll-bound states to brace up for the elections and had urged strict adherence to the Model Code of Conduct that comes into force with the announcement of dates.
Schedule:
Counting of votes: March 11 (Saturday)
Uttar Pradesh (403 Assembly constituencis) - Seven phase polling
* Phase 1 – 73 seats in 15 districts
Date of notification on Jan 17
Las date of filing nomination Jan 24
Scrutiny on Jan 15
Withdrawal of candidature on Jan 27
Polling on Feb 11
* Phase 2 – 67 seats in 11 districts
Date of notification on Jan 20
Las date of filing nomination Jan 27
Scrutiny on Jan 28
Withdrawal of candidature on Jan 30
Polling on Feb 15
* Phase 3 – 69 seats in 12 districts
Date of notification on Jan 24
Las date of filing nomination Jan 31
Scrutiny on Feb 2
Withdrawal of candidature on Feb 4
Polling on Feb 19
* Phase 4 – 53 seats in 12 districts
Date of notification on Jan 30
Las date of filing nomination Feb 6
Scrutiny on Feb 7
Withdrawal of candidature on Feb 9
Polling on Feb 23
* Phase 5 – 52 seats in 11 districts
Date of notification on Feb 2
Las date of filing nomination Feb 9
Scrutiny on Feb 11
Withdrawal of candidature on Feb 13
Polling on Feb 27
* Phase 6 – 49 seats in 7 districts
Date of notification on Feb 8
Las date of filing nomination Feb 15
Scrutiny on Feb 16
Withdrawal of candidature on Feb 18
Polling on Feb March 4
* Phase 7 – 40 seats in 7 districts
Date of notification on Feb 11
Las date of filing nomination Feb 18
Scrutiny on Feb 20
Withdrawal of candidature on Feb 22
Polling on March 8
Goa (40 Assembly constituencies) - Single phase
Notification on Jan 11
Las date of filing nomination Jan 18
Scrutiny on Jan 19
Withdrawal of candidature on Jan 21
Polling on Feb 4
Punjab (117 Assembly constituencies) - Single phase
Notification on Jan 11
Las date of filing nomination Jan 18
Scrutiny on Jan 19
Withdrawal of candidature on Jan 21
Polling on Feb 4
Uttarakhand (70 Assembly constituencies) - Single phase
Date of notification on Jan 20
Las date of filing nomination Jan 27
Scrutiny on Jan 28
Withdrawal of candidature on Jan 30
Polling on Feb 15
Manipur (60 Assembly constituencies) - Two phase polling
Phase 1 – 38 seats
Date of notification on Feb 8
Las date of filing nomination Feb 15
Scrutiny on Feb 16
Withdrawal of candidature on Feb 18
Polling on March 4
Phase 2 - 22 seats
Date of notification on Feb 11
Las date of filing nomination Feb 18
Scrutiny on Feb 20
Withdrawal of candidature on Feb 22
Polling on March 8
* ECI restricts use of loudspeakers after 10pm. Police and electoral officers to ensure clampdown on it.
* ECI discourages use of environmentally hazardous material in Assembly Elections campaigns: Zaidi
* Expenditure limit for candidates: Rs 28 lakh in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab; Rs 20 lakh in Goa and Manipur
* Candidates will be required to affix photo on nomination papers, he will be required to mention that he is citizen of India: Zaidi
* Polling station-wise mapping of Persons with Disabilities being done; Assembly Elections to be Persons with Disabilities-friendly: Zaidi
* All women-managed polling stations would be set up: CEC Nasim Zaidi
* Electronic voting machines to carry names, photos of candidates. Height of voting compartments has been raised to 30 inch for secrecy: Zaidi
* Nearly 100 per cent voters have electoral photo ID card: Nasim Zaidi
* Every polling station will have four posters for voting procedure and dos and don'ts: Nasim Zaidi
* 1.85 lakh polling stations to be in operation for polls in all five states. Voters assistance table to to set up at all polling stations. The table will manned by election official: Zaidi
* Colour voter guide along with voter slip to be distributed among all families: Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi
* Polling to conducted across 690 Assembly segments. Over 16 crore voters to participate in polls in five states: Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi
