Highlights: 5 states to vote in 7 phases from Feb 10, results on March 10

Updated: Saturday, January 8, 2022, 20:04 [IST]

New Delhi, Jan 08: Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, the Election Commission on Saturday banned election rallies, roadshows and corner meetings till January 15 in the five poll-bound states.

Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra said the poll authority will review the COVID-19 situation on January 15 and take a further call on allowing public rallies.

Assembly elections in all five states will be completed in total seven phases.

Uttar Pradesh to go to poll in 7 phases from 10th February to 7th March; Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa to vote on 14th February and Manipur to vote on 27th Feb and 3rd March.

5 state election dates today: Stay tuned for LIVE Updates

Jan 08, 2022, 5:08 PM IST

What is cVIGIL app? How does it operate?

Election commission CEC, Sushil Chandra, announced in press conference today that ECI will use the cVIGIL application during upcoming states elections to tackle with the corruption.

Jan 08, 2022, 4:32 PM IST

Full Schedule

Elections in 5 States to Start from Feb 10, Results on March 10

Uttar Pradesh to go to poll in 7 phases from 10th Feb to 7th March; Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa to vote on 14th February & Manipur to vote on 27th Feb & 3 March; Counting of votes on 10th March: ECI pic.twitter.com/hxKms5e8hi
— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2022

Jan 08, 2022, 4:31 PM IST

Sufficient CAPF companies will be deployed in all poll-bound states looking at law & order situation and threat perception: Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra

Jan 08, 2022, 4:21 PM IST

Comprehensive plan of action in place to ensure inducement-free elections in all five states: CEC Sushil Chandra at press conference

Jan 08, 2022, 4:21 PM IST

Zero tolerance towards money-power and misuse of government machinery: Election Commission on five state assembly elections

Jan 08, 2022, 4:15 PM IST

UP elections to start from February 10, EC said.

Jan 08, 2022, 4:14 PM IST

Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa to vote on 14th February & Manipur to vote on 27th Feb & 3 March; Counting of votes on 10th March, says ECI

Jan 08, 2022, 4:11 PM IST

Second phase of polling in UP and single-day polling for Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa on February 14

Jan 08, 2022, 4:09 PM IST

All state polls will be completed in 7 phases

Jan 08, 2022, 4:08 PM IST

No victory rallies will be allowed after the results, says EC

Jan 08, 2022, 4:07 PM IST

No roadshows, padyatras, cycle or bike rallies and processions shall be allowed till 15th January; situation to be reviewed and fresh instructions to be issued later: CEC Sushil Chandra

Jan 08, 2022, 4:05 PM IST

Polling will go on for an extra hour in all poll-bound states because of the pandemic.

Jan 08, 2022, 4:05 PM IST

No physical rally of political parties or probably candidates or any other group related to elections shall be allowed till January 15. ECI should subsequently review the situation and issues further instructions accordingly: CEC Sushil Chandra

Jan 08, 2022, 4:02 PM IST

CEC Sushil Chandra reads a couplet while announcing the measures to be taken by ECI for the conduct of safe elections, "Yakeen ho to koi raasta nikalta hai, hawa ki oat bhi lekar chirag jalta hai."

Jan 08, 2022, 4:02 PM IST

EC urges all political parties to conducted campaign virtually amid Omicron scare

Jan 08, 2022, 4:01 PM IST

Article 172(1) of Constitution gives period of any state assembly at maximum 5 years. Holding of timely elections is essence of democratic governance and this task has been given to EC

Jan 08, 2022, 3:59 PM IST

All election officials and employees will be considered as frontline workers and all eligible officers will be vaccinated with 'precautionary dose': CEC Sushil Chandra

Jan 08, 2022, 3:58 PM IST

Delaying elections would have been undemocratic, says CEC

Jan 08, 2022, 3:57 PM IST

We have asked the poll-bound states to ramp up, first and second dose of vaccine of citizens, says CEC

Jan 08, 2022, 3:56 PM IST

Our cVIGIL application should be used by voters to report any incident of violation of the Model Code of Conduct, distribution of money & freebies. Within 100 minutes of complaint, ECI officials will reach the place of offence: CEC Sushil Chandra

Jan 08, 2022, 3:55 PM IST

CEC Sushil Chandra reads a couplet while announcing the measures to be taken by ECI for the conduct of safe elections, "Yakeen ho to koi raasta nikalta hai, hawa ki oat bhi lekar chirag jalta hai."

Jan 08, 2022, 3:54 PM IST

Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements for ensuring the effective implementation of the MCC guidelines. Any violation of these guidelines will be strictly dealt with, says CEC

Jan 08, 2022, 3:53 PM IST

Model code of conduct comes into immediate effect in 5 states, says EC

Jan 08, 2022, 3:52 PM IST

t is mandatory for political parties to upload on their website detailed information regarding individuals with pending criminal cases selected as poll candidates. They will also have to give a reason to select the candidate: CEC Sushil Chandra

Jan 08, 2022, 3:51 PM IST

EVMs and VVPATs will be utilized in all the polling stations. Election Commission has already made arrangements to ensure an adequate number of EVMs and VVPATs for the smooth conduct of elections: CEC Sushil Chandra in Delhi

Jan 08, 2022, 3:51 PM IST

Senior citizens above 80 years of age, persons with disabilities & COVID19 patients can vote by postal ballot: CEC Sushil Chandra

Jan 08, 2022, 3:50 PM IST

All polling stations will be equipped with Covid-mitigation facilities including sanitisers and masks; Number of booths increased, says EC

Jan 08, 2022, 3:49 PM IST

Candidates can file online nomination and Covid positive voters can cast ballot votes, says Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra.

Jan 08, 2022, 3:47 PM IST

ECI has mandated that at least one polling station managed exclusively by women shall be set up in every Assembly constituency. Our officers have identified much more than that. There're 690 Assembly seats but we are setting up 1620 such polling booths: CEC Sushil Chandra

Jan 08, 2022, 3:46 PM IST

Elections to be held for 403 assembly seats in UP, 117 in Punjab, 70 in Uttarakhand 60 in Manipur and 40 in Goa: CEC

Jan 08, 2022, 11:50 am IST

The Election Commission of India will announce the schedule of the elections for the states of Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Punjab, Manipur and Uttarakhand today.

Jan 08, 2022, 11:50 am IST

The announcement regarding the schedule will be made by the Election Commissioner of India at 3.30 pm today.

Jan 08, 2022, 11:50 am IST

It may be recalled that the election limit for candidates has been hiked to Rs 95 lakh from Rs 70 lakh for Lok Sabha elections and to Rs 40 lakh from Rs 28 lakh for assembly polls.

Jan 08, 2022, 11:50 am IST

There were questions asked on whether the EC would postpone the elections scheduled this year amidst a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases. The EC had said that they would hold a review and then take a call on the same. Following a meeting with top officials of the health ministry, the EC decided to hold the polls on schedule.

Jan 08, 2022, 11:55 am IST

It may be recalled that the Allahabad High Court had requested the Election Commission to postpone the Uttar Pradesh Elections 2022 by month or two. The observations were made in the wake of the rising number of Omicron cases in the country.

Jan 08, 2022, 11:55 am IST

The court also requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ban election related gatherings in the state.

Jan 08, 2022, 11:55 am IST

The observations were made while hearing an unconnected bail petition.

Jan 08, 2022, 11:55 am IST

"If rallies are not stopped, results will be worse than the second wave. Jaan hai toh Jahaan hai, Justice Shekhar Yadav said. The observations were made after pointing out that the court was regularly crowded as scores of cases were listed daily and social distancing was not being followed.

Jan 08, 2022, 11:55 am IST

"There's a possibility of the third wave of Covid as the cases of the new variant Omicron are rising," the judge said. He also quoted news reports about the number of cases and said that many countries have enforced a lockdown.

Jan 08, 2022, 11:55 am IST

"Gram Panchayat elections and the Bengal assembly elections infected a lot of people, which caused many deaths as well," he said and added that political parties are organising rallies and gatherings in UP for the upcoming election. Following COVID-19 protocols at such events are impossible the judge also said.

Jan 08, 2022, 12:06 pm IST

While the term of the current Uttar Pradesh assembly is ending in May, those of the other four assemblies are ending on different dates in March.

Jan 08, 2022, 12:06 pm IST

Political rallies, dharnas and demonstrations have been banned in poll-bound Uttarakhand till January 16 in view of the rising coronavirus cases.

Jan 08, 2022, 12:34 pm IST

It is being reported that the UP election will reflect how the BJP might perform in the 2024 general election.

Jan 08, 2022, 1:01 pm IST

Elections in all five states will be held amid a massive surge in Covid cases across the country.

Jan 08, 2022, 1:10 pm IST

The Union government has provided the Y+ category VIP security cover to Punjab MLA Fatehjang Singh Bajwa who recently joined the BJP.

Jan 08, 2022, 1:13 pm IST

Mohali civil surgeon Dr Adarshpal Kaur said Channi's wife Kamaljit Kaur, his son Navjit Singh and daughter-in-law Simrandheer Kaur have tested positive for coronavirus. They all have mild symptoms and are in home-isolation, she further said.

Jan 08, 2022, 1:31 pm IST

Last week, the poll body held a meeting with the Health Ministry to discuss the current Covid situation in the five states.

Jan 08, 2022, 1:39 pm IST

It is learnt that Uttar Pradesh is likely to vote in six to eight phases, while Punjab will go for polling in two to three phases.

Jan 08, 2022, 2:01 pm IST

A possibility of Model Code of Conduct by Election Commission coming into play from January 8 for poll-bound states

Jan 08, 2022, 2:05 pm IST

According to the ministry, the Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan in his meeting with ECI presented the overall global and domestic status of spread of Covid, as well as Omicron, in the country.

Jan 08, 2022, 2:06 pm IST

According to the ministry, the Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan in his meeting with ECI presented the overall global and domestic status of spread of Covid, as well as Omicron, in the country.

Jan 08, 2022, 2:14 pm IST

In view of the forthcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, a total of 150 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel are being provided to the state by the Centre in the first phase.

Jan 08, 2022, 2:15 pm IST

These include 50 companies of the Central Reserved Police Force (CRPF), 30 companies each of the Border Security Force (BSF), the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and 20 companies each of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the Indo-Tibetan Border (ITBP).

Jan 08, 2022, 2:27 pm IST

Uttar Pradesh

What Do Poll Surveys Say ?

A recent survey conducted by Times Now and Navbharat projected the BJP to win the 2022 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.

Jan 08, 2022, 2:33 pm IST

The survey adds that the saffron party under the leadership of Yogi Adityanath will return to power even as the Samajwadi Party under the leadership of Akhilesh Yadav is predicted to improve its performance compared to the previous elections

Jan 08, 2022, 2:42 pm IST

The poll claims that the BJP alliance might win somewhere between 230-249 seats in the 2022 elections. It means it will lose somewhere around 75-90 seats compared to the previous elections where it won 325 seats. On the other side, SP, which was reduced to 48 seats in 2017, is predicted to win 137-152 seats. As far as the votes share are concerned, the BJP alliance is predicted to secure 38.6 per cent while the SP is garnering 34.4 per cent votes.

Jan 08, 2022, 2:54 pm IST

Interestingly, both the parties are eating into the BSP's vote share. Mayawati-led party had secured 22.2 per cent votes in 2017 and it is coming down to 14.1 per cent votes in 2022. It is predicted to win 9-14 seats, the lowest in the last three decades, as per the poll. Congress is projected to get the seats in single digit.

Jan 08, 2022, 3:06 pm IST

Punjab

Punjab Heading for Four-cornered Contest

Punjab is heading for a four-cornered contest as a large number of people in the state is looking for a fresh face. A recent survey conducted by ABP-CVoter indicates that the citizens are moving away from the tried-and-tested parties as the AAP is expected to emerge as the single largest party in the next polls.

Jan 08, 2022, 3:11 pm IST

The survey conducted by ABP-Cvoter, the state is projected to witness a hung assembly. In a departure from the political tradition in which the state has usually switched power between Congress and Akali Dal-BJP combine, AAP is likely to be the single largest party by winning 50-56 seats.

Jan 08, 2022, 3:15 pm IST

According to recent survey, Charanjit Singh Channi is preferred by 32.9 per cent of respondents for the post of Punjab Chief Minister followed by Arvind Kejriwal (23.7 per cent). Akali Dal's Sukhbir Singh Badal (17.5 per cent) and AAP's Bhagwant Mann (12.8 per cent).