Election Commission announces poll schedule for five states

Mangalore Today / NDTV

New Delhi, Dec 24:  The Election Commission has announced the poll schedule for five states - Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Punjab and Goa.

While Manipur, Goa, Punjab and Uttarakhand will see a single-phase election, Uttar Pradesh will witness seven phases of polling. The counting will take place on March 4, 2012.

The polls will be held in Manipur on January 28, in Punjab and Uttarakhand on January 30, 2012 and in Goa on March 3. Polling in Uttar Pradesh will begin from February 4, and will conclude on February 28. The seven-phased polling in Uttar Pradesh will be the longest in any state in the country so far.

 

 

There are 403 constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, 70 in Uttarakhand, 117 in Punjab, 60 in Manipur and 40 in Goa.

Chief Election Commission SY Quraishi, along with and Election Commissioners VS Sampath and H S Brahma, addressed a press conference in New Delhi today where the dates were announced.

The model code of conduct comes into force from immediate effect, Mr Quraishi said.

The schedule for the elections was finalised by the Election Commission after assessing the availability of paramilitary forces from the government. Around 80,000 paramilitary personnel, apart from state policemen, are expected to be deployed during the Assembly polls.

All eyes are especially on battleground UP, while Mayawati is trying to save her turf, Mulayam Singh Yadav is fighting to reclaim it and Rahul Gandhi has upped the ante by clearing 4.5% minority quota.

The Congress said that it is ready for the polls and will bring ’respite’ to the state.

"We are ready, Congress party will fight elections in Uttar pradesh with all its might. For the last 22 years, UP has gone from bad to worse over issues of caste, religion and corruption. This time we will bring respite to the people of UP from all these issues," said Congress leader Digvijaya Singh.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), however, took strong offence to Cabinet’s decision to reserve 4.5% in government jobs and universities for Muslims.

"They (Congress party) think that by making reservations they would be able to climb the rope," said BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.

The BJP’s Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "The BJP will strongly oppose such a move taken by the government which is based on caste system."

Muslims form 18% of the population of Uttar Pradesh, making them the largest minority in India’s most populous state.