EC : Model Code From Today; UP Poll Phase 1 From Feb 10, Punjab On 14; No Rallies Till Jan 15

Anand Singh

Rohan Dua

Pramod Kumar Singh

| Updated: 08 January, 2022 4:04 pm IST

NEW DELHI: Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday said that model code of conduct (MCC) has come into force with immediate effect as it signalled that elections in five poll-bound states Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Goa, Punjab and Uttarakhand will be held on time.

“Situation is very dynamic. Lemme article 172 (1) that every legislative assembly of every state shall sooner resolve….Period of any assembly should be only five years. The government will have to be of their choice. Holding of timely election is the job of ECI,” CEC Sushil Chandra told mediapersons at the press conference being held in the national capital at Vigyan Bhawan.

The elections in all states will be held over total of seven phases. First phase of UP elections starts from February 10. The last phase will be held on March 7 and counting will be held on March 10.

(Phase wise schedule of the assembly elections phase wise of all the 5 states.)

(Elections in Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases, First phase will be held on February 10 and the last phase will be held on March 7, 2021.)

Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa to have single-day polling on February 14. Manipur will see two-phase polling on February 27 and March 3.

The team of New Indian is present at the PC at the time of filing of this report.

(Elections in Punjab are scheduled to be held on 14 February 2022.)

CEC also said that all its offiicials will be treated as frontline warriors and workers and will be eligible for booster doses.

(Elections in Goa are scheduled to be held on February 14, 2022.)

“Suvidha APP has been developed for all parties. Political parties need to put request for holding public meeting where they can raise request,” the CEC said.

The CEC said total electors in five states now stand at 18 crore plus while 24.9 lakh are first time voters.

(Elections in Manipur will be held in two phases, First phase will be held on February 27 and second phase will be held on March 3, 2021.)

We have appointed health nodal officers in all states. Polling time has been increased by one hour in view of COVID guidelines. Voters allowed at each polling station, however, shall be reduced from 1,500 to 1,250. Total number of stations stand at 2,15,368, that is 16 % more than 2017 polls.

(Elections in Uttarakhand are scheduled to be held on February 14, 2022.)

CEC said that expenditure limit for candidates has been increased from Rs 28 lakh to Rs 40 lakh.

CEC also said that no physical rally, including padyatra or cycle rally or procession , will be allowed including any physical road shows till January 15.

“In complete essence, there is complete moratorium on physical campaigning. We are suggesting more and more virtual campaining. Physical rallies after considering the review will be done only subject to COVID 19 guidelines,” said CEC.