The Election Commission on Saturday announced the dates for the Assembly elections in five states – Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur.While Uttar Pradesh will go for a seven-phase election, the other states will have one phase each.The elections in Uttar Pradesh will be held on February 4, 8, 11, 15, 19, 23 and 28 while the polling will be done in Punjab and Uttarakhand on January 30.Meanwhile, Manipur will be the first to vote on January 28 whereas the elections in Goa will be held on March 3.The counting in all the states will be done on March 4.Announcing the schedule for the elections, Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi said that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) would be used in all polling booths, adding that photo identity cards for would be mandatory for all the voters.He further said that the Income Tax department would monitor the electoral expense by all the political parties and candidates. The candidates will have to open a new bank account from which they will manage the expense during campaigns.According to the CEC, monetary committees would be established to deal with the issue of paid news.Model code of conduct has been put in place with immediate effect.Around 80,000 paramilitary personnel, apart from state policemen, are expected to be deployed during the Assembly polls.The Congress has been hoping of putting up a good show in Uttar Pradesh where it has been out of power for over two decades. Congress General Secretary and Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi has been hoping to capitalise on his party’s surprisingly good show during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections and trying to revive his party in the state
The battle for Goa
it will be a face off between the Congress and the BJP.It is a crucial poll for Goa as the Digamber Kamat government has been battling allegations of corruption. Mining and environment are likely to feature as key electoral issues.Massive use of money power can also impact results in one of India’s smallest states.Language identity and communalism is likely to impact campaigning in Goa
Courtesy : IBN
