Uttar Pradesh urban local body polls to be held in 2 phases

The Uttar Pradesh State Election Commission on Sunday announced to hold urban local body polls in the state in two phases, on May 4 and 11.

State Election Commissioner Manoj Kumar issued the notification for the elections. "The voting for the urban local body polls will be held on May 4 and 11," he told reporters.

Model code of conduct across the state has come into force after the issuance of the election notification. The Supreme Court on March 27 had paved the way for holding the urban local body polls in Uttar Pradesh as it allowed the State Election Commission to issue a notification in this regard in two days with an OBC quota in terms of a report of the Uttar Pradesh Backward Classes Commission.

The elections will witness the political parties, including the ruling BJP and principal opposition Samajwadi Party, trying to strengthen themselves ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The politically crucial state sends 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha. PTI CDN NAV KVK KVK

Welcoming the State Election Commission's notification for urbal local body polls in Uttar Pradesh, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Sunday urged voters to give their blessings to the BJP.

Following the announcement, Maurya tweeted in Hindi, "I welcome the announcement of municipal elections! Every worker of the BJP is preparing for victory in the elections since the assembly elections! "I have full faith that people will give their blessing to form a triple-engine government of the BJP."

In the same tweet, he coined a slogan -- "Opposition issueless, far away from the public - (choose) lotus flower (the BJP's election symbol) for good governance".

In a series of tweets welcoming the announcement, Maurya said the BJP's double-engine government has done all-round development in the last six years through various schemes across the Uttar Pradesh with the policy of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'.

He also urged the electorate to bless the BJP with their votes for the development of their respective areas.