The Election Commission of India is all set to announce the dates for the upcoming set of state assembly elections to be held on January 4. The Election Commission will announce the dates for elections to all the five states, which is Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Manipur, Uttarakhand, and Goa.
Photo: (Election Commission)
The EC addressed a press conference in the presence of Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi and declare the list of dates while revealing the last date of filing nominations, and dates of voting.
Here are the live updates:
– The Election Commission is in favour reducing limit of anonymous donations to Rs 2000 only, also mulling on whether they can switch to digital payments
EC is committed to abide by SC’s order; it will be implemented effectively: Nasim Zaidi, ECI on SC’s decision on Hindutva case pic.twitter.com/9aYFEFMRhs
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 4, 2017
-The counting day is set for 11 March for all states.
-Uttar Pradesh will be 7 Phase polls. 1st Phase: February 11.
1st Phase: February 11; 2nd Phase: February 15; 3rd Phase: February 19; 4th Phase: February 23; 5th Phase: February 27; 6th Phase: March 4; 7th Phase: March 8; -Manipur first phase polls on March 4.
Constituencies: 403 seats
-Manipur first phase polls on March 4; Second Phase will be held on March 8
Constituencies: 60
Withdrawal Date: February 22 Polls: March 8
-Uttarakhand to go to polls on 15 February.
Constituencies: 70 seats
-Punjab elections on February 4.
Date of notification: January 11
Last date of making nominations: Janurary 18
Constituencies: 117
-Goa will go to the polls on February 4.
Constituencies: 40 seats
-All 5 states will go to election in one go.
-Expenses above Rs 20,000 have to be out of bank accounts to be set up and it has to be through cheques.
–EC is committed to provide protection to SC/STs. Protection of atrocities act being invoked.
Kiosks/bastas set up by candidates will be deemed to be set up by candidates, to be included in election exp. by candidates: CEC pic.twitter.com/2BemHUEleF
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 4, 2017
-Adequate central security forces will be implemented along with local security forces.
-The Candidates will be required to affix photo on nomination papers, he will be required to mention that he is citizen of India.
-“Electoral roll of Goa will be published on January 5, Manipur on January 12, Punjab on January 5, Uttarakhand on January 10 and UP on January 12”, Nasim Zaidi says.
-1.85 lakh polling stations will be in operation for Assembly Elections to the five states and every polling station will have 4 posters for voting procedure and dos and don’ts.
–There will be a voters assistance booth outside every polling station location. The Height of the compartment has been raised to 30 inch to maintain secrecy. Chief electoral officers have also been asked to build separate women managed stations will be set up.
-The limit for expenses for candidates is Rs 28 lakh for UP, Punjab, Uttarakhand & Rs 20 lakh for Manipur and Goa.
–The will also be PWD (persons with disability) friendly polling stations.
–EC expects all political parties not to use environmentally hazardous material. The Use of loudspeakers will be discourages. no ludspeakers between 10 pm to 6 am.
-The Election Commission announced that over 160 million voters will go to the polls this year.
There will be complete accountablility of photo voter slips, colourful voter guides will be distributed to each family: Nasim Zaidi, ECI pic.twitter.com/sGBf6iJE8l
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 4, 2017
-Manipur will go to polls despite the recent instances of violence and the MHA’s warning.
Delhi: ECI briefs media, to announce election dates for upcoming Assembly polls in UP, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur & Goa pic.twitter.com/xo4UsfY8FW
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 4, 2017
It was only last week that the election commission directed the cabinet secretary and chief secretaries of all the five states, to keep the administrative setup ready for a smooth functioning of the model electoral code of conduct for political parties, which would come in action once the poll dates are announced.
On the other hand, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs will look after the security conditions in the states and will be deploying 85,000 security personnel. As conveyed by top MHA officials under the leadership of Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, the ministry will provide 750 companies of paramilitary forces for the smooth conduct of polls in all the 5 states.
