Notification for UP urban local bodies' polls issued

Lucknow, Sep 21 (UNI) The Uttar Pradesh government today notified holding of the urban local bodies elections in the state in three-phases in October-November next.

The local bodies polls would be run up for all political parties in UP before the assembly polls to be held in the state in February-April, 2007.

Yesterday, the State Election Commission (SEC) had given its approval to the dates fixed by the state government for holding urban local bodies' election.

According to urban development department officials, the polls will be held in three phases on October 28, 31 and November 3.

''The counting of papers will be completed on November 6 and the results will be declared on the same date,'' officials said.

The election process would start from October 3 after SEC issue notification for the elections.

On Wednesday, the state government had urged the SEC to give its consent to the proposed dates. According to SEC, no amendment was done in the dates of the election programme. ''We are prepared for the election,'' the officials added.

Allahabad High Court has asked the state government to file an affidavit in the court tomorrow listing reasons for the delay in holding the election.

The local bodies elections delayed for more than a year following pending petitions in the court over reservation of seats.

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