EC announces polling in 5 states, UP staggered over 7 phases

The Election Commission on Saturday announced poll dates for five states- Punjab, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Goa and Manipur.

While polls in four states will be single phased, the crucial Uttar Pradesh polls have been staggered in seven phases between February 4 and 28.

Briefing reporters, Chief Election Commissioner SY Qureshi said they have taken into account all possible factors including examinations, festivals and time to allow movement of staff and security forces for smooth conduct of polls.

The Commission has, also circumvented UP Chief Minister Mayawati’s deliberate scheduling of examinations from March 1, to force polls in April.

Since the election code of conduct came into force immediately, the poll schedule will affect Centre’s announcements during Rail Budget.

A senior EC official on the condition of anonymity told DNA that government may have to either club the Rail Budget scheduled to be tabled in Parliament last week of February, with the General Budget, which will be presented on February 29, a day after electoral process comes to an end, or withhold announcement related to the poll bound states.

Punjab and Uttarakhand, whose assemblies will be completing terms on March 14 and 12 respectively, go to polls on January 30 while Manipur polls are slated on January 28. Goa, where the Assembly's term is up to June 14, goes to polls last on March 3. By-elections to the Lok Sabha and Assemblies, wherever due, will be announced later separately.

Counting of votes will take place simultaneously in all five states on March 4 and the results will be out the same day by the afternoon. The Election Commission has set March 9 as the target date for completing the election process in all the states.

Except for Goa and Manipur presently ruled by the Congress governments, three others are with the Opposition -- Uttar Pradesh with BSP supremo Mayawati, Uttarakhand with the BJP and Punjab with the coalition government of Akali Dal and BJP.

Flanked by the two election commissioners, Qureshi said the model code of conduct for the political parties, the state governments and the Centre has come into immediate effect.

Asked if the possible notification on the 4.5% reservation of minorities as decided by the Cabinet recently would come under the model code, he said the Commission is not concerned about what happened until now but it would take notice of any announcements made in future that influence the voters and polling.

Any announcements in the Union Budget are "not our problem," he answered in reply to another question. He later explained that the polls will be over by the time the Union Budget is presented to Parliament on February 29. The Commission won't issue any directive as it hopes the Centre will take note of the code of conduct.

In Uttar Pradesh, 60 of the 403 constituencies go to polls in the first round on February 4. Other rounds are staggered with the gap of 3 to 5 days to enable movement of the forces. The notification for the first phase will be issued on January 10.

Governors of the respective states are to issue notifications to kick off the elections. The first one will be on March 4 by the Manipur Governor. Nominations close in Manipur on January 11 and withdrawals will be allowed up to January 14, giving just two weeks for campaign before the polling on January 28 (Saturday).

In case of Punjab and Uttarakhand, nominations will start on January 5 and close on January 12, while January 16 is the last date for withdrawal and polling will be on January 30.

In Goa the nominations begin with the issue of notification on February 6 and close on February 13 while withdrawals will be allowed till February 16 and polling on March 3, which is a Saturday.

Identification mandatory: Qureshi said the identification of the voters at the polling booths has been made mandatory. He said presently 96.64% voters in these five states have been issued electoral photo identity cards (EPIC). All other voters have been asked to obtained their cards. He, however, said separate instructions would be issued in case EPIC are not issued to a voters whose name figures in the electoral rolls.

Election expenditure: The Commission has asked candidates to open separate bank accounts to keep tabs on election expenses. Income tax investigation wing has been asked to monitor airports, railway stations, inter-state bus stations and farm houses to seize any illegal cash. The format for filing of affidavits by candidates has also been modified to include a summary sheet about their liabilities, criminal background, assets and educational qualifications.

Paid news: Election Commission has set up monitoring committee at district, state and central levels. Representatives of political parties and senior media personality recommended by the Press Council of India would be part of a committee to securitize cases of paid news.

Complaint redressal: First time, the Commission has set up a call centre with a toll free number '1950' to entertain complaints. It has also introduced certain innovative practices like on-line payment to polling staff, security management and voter education and awareness creation in these elections. Further instead of political parties, the Commission will itself distributed slips including photograph of the voter ahead of polling day.