The Election Commission has announced the elections for five states, including Uttar Pradesh, which are called the semi-finals of the Lok Sabha elections. Uttar Pradesh, with 403 assembly seats, will vote in 7 phases.
The first round of voting in Uttar Pradesh will be held on February 10. After this, the second phase of polling is to be held on February 14. The third round of voting will be held on February 20 and the fourth round on the 23rd. The 5th on 27th February, the 6th on 3rd March and the 7th round of voting will be held on March 7.
Apart from this, Uttarakhand, Goa and Punjab will go to the polls in a single round on February 14. Voting in Manipur will be held in two phases on February 27 and March 3.
Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra said that the results of all the five states would be announced on March 10.
Rallies, roadshows banned, only virtual campaign will be allowed
Voting time has been extended by one hour in all five states, including UP. Apart from this, any rally, roadshow, bike rally, street gatherings have been banned in all the states till January 15. Only virtual campaigns will be allowed. The situation will be reviewed after January 15. If the corona is under control, then some relaxation can be given. There will be a ban on any kind of victory procession after the election is over.
Both doses of corona are necessary for all election officials
Giving information about the corona rules during the election, the Chief Election Commissioner said we have to be sure to come out of the epidemic. All personnel deployed in the election should have both doses of the vaccine. The Election Commissioner said that most people in Uttarakhand and Goa have had both doses. 90% of adults in UP have had at least one vaccine.
Enrollment can also be done online; notification will be applicable with immediate effect
The Election Commission said that a strict vigil would be kept on illegal money and liquor during the election. Apart from this, because of the Corona crisis, the facility of online enrollment will also be given to the candidates. The election schedule will be implemented only after the release of the election code of conduct. The notification of elections has come into force with immediate effect, and due to this, now no government in any state will be able to announce announcements to woo the public.
Information about candidates with criminal cases will have to be published in the newspaper
Announcing a rule, the Chief Election Commissioner said that if a political party fields a candidate with a criminal background, it will have to be reported in the newspapers. Apart from this, it will also have to be told why they have been chosen. Candidates will also get to know about the criminal cases registered against them. Know Your Candidate app has also been launched. Through this, people will be able to know in detail about their candidate. Chief Commissioner Sushil Chandra said that 900 observers would keep an eye on the election process in all the states.
Every program will be videographed, women employees at 1620 polling stations
The Chief Election Commissioner said that all programs would be videographed. Conducting elections in the Corona era is challenging. Voting is to be held in 690 seats in the elections of 5 states, including UP. EC has taken stock of the election preparations by meeting all the states’ DGPs and administrative officers. “It is our duty to conduct elections even in the Corona era,” said Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra. He said that 1620 polling stations would have women employees. The voter list for all the states was published on January 5. In this, 24.9 lakh new voters have been added. There has been an increase of 16 per cent in polling stations.