In Uttar Pradesh, the high-pitch electoral
campaign is going on for the first two phases of the Seven-Phase
Assembly Elections and the Star Campaigners and prominent leaders of
various political parties engaged in public rallies after finalisation
of the candidates for the First Phase.
The door-to-door canvassing and virtual appeals to the voters also
continue. The political activities have already begun in other
poll-bound states including Goa, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Manipur with
the party leaders deliberating in marathon meetings to finalise their
electoral strategies and formations even while giving shape to the lists
of candidates.
Meanwhile, the picture of the electoral battle in the First Phase of
Assembly Elections became clear with mostly multi-cornered contests on
cards after the withdrawal of candidature.
There are 623 candidates in fray for 58 seats included in this phase.
Maximum 15 candidates each are vying for Mathura and Muzaffar Nagar
seats while minimum five candidates are in the fray for Iglas seat.
In the initial phase, 58 Assembly Constituencies including nine reserved
for the Scheduled Castes will go to polls on 10th of February. These
constituencies are from eleven districts of Shamli (Prabuddh Nagar),
Meerut, Hapur (Panchsheel Nagar), Muzaffarnagar, Baghpat, Ghaziabad,
Bulandshahar, Aligarh, Agra, Gautam Buddha Nagar and Mathura.
The Second Phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh will be conducted on 14th
of February in 55 Assembly Constituencies from nine districts including
nine ACs reserved for the Scheduled Castes.
They include Saharanpur, Bijnor, Amroha (J.P. Nagar), Moradabad,
Bareilly, Rampur, Sambhal (Bhim Nagar), Budaun and Shahjahanpur
district. In addition, the Single-Phase polling in two states Goa and
Uttarakhand will be held simultaneously. Forty seats in Goa and 70 seats
in Uttarakhand will go to polls together in this phase.
During the UP Second Phase and the Single-Phase polling in the two
states, the scrutiny of nominations was undertaken yesterday. The final
electoral scenario will become clear tomorrow evening after the
withdrawal of candidature. In Uttar Pradesh, 648 nominations were found
valid during the scrutiny for this phase while 380 nominations were
found valid in Goa and 727 nominations were found valid in Uttarakhand.
The Third Phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh will be conducted on 20th of
February in 59 Assembly Constituencies from 16 districts including 15
ACs reserved for the Scheduled Castes.
They include Hathras, Kanshiram Nagar (Kasganj), Etah, Mainpuri,
Firozabad, Farrukhabad, Kannauj, Etawah, Auraiya, Kanpur Dehat, Kanpur
Nagar, Jalaun, Hamirpur, Mahoba, Jhansi and Lalitpur district. In
addition, the Single-Phase polling in Punjab will be held
simultaneously. All the 117 Assembly Constituencies in the state will go
to polls together in this phase.
During the UP Third Phase and the Single-Phase polling in Punjab, the
nominations can be filed till 1st of February and the scrutiny will be
undertaken on 2nd of February. In all, 226 nominations were filed in
Uttar Pradesh while 619 nominations were filed in Punjab till the last
evening. The last date for withdrawal of candidature will be 4th of
February.
Fourth Phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh will be conducted on 23rd of
February in 59 Assembly Constituencies from nine districts including 16
ACs reserved for the Scheduled Castes. They include Pilibhit, Lakhimpur -
Kheri, Sitapur, Lucknow, Hardoi, Unnao, Rae Bareli, Fatehpur and Banda
district.
During the UP Fourth Phase, the process of filing nominations for the
Fourth Phase of Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh is presently going on
and 68 nominations were filed till the last evening. The nominations can
be filed till 3rd of February and the scrutiny will be undertaken on
4th of February. The last date for withdrawal of candidature will be 7th
of February.
In view of the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic and rising cases of Omicron
variant across the country, the Election Commission has laid focus on
COVID-safe elections with maximum participation. It is going to ensure
the safety of vote and voters as both are equally and critically
important in democracy.
The Election Commission has extended ban on physical rallies and
roadshows till tomorrow. After taking a comprehensive review of the
prevailing situation with respect to status and projected trends of
COVID pandemic in the five poll-bound states, the commission decided
that no roadshow, Padayatra, cycle or bike or vehicle rally and
procession shall be allowed till the end of this month.
It had been decided to allow physical meetings of concerned political
parties or contesting candidates for the First Phase of elections in
designated open spaces with a maximum of 500 persons or 50 per cent of
the capacity of the ground or the prescribed limit set by State Disaster
Management Authorities, whichever is lesser, from 28th of January to
8th of February excluding the silence period.
The poll body said, physical meetings of concerned parties or contesting
candidates for the Second Phase will be allowed with the similar
restrictions from 1st to 12th of February excluding the silence period.
The Election Commission has also allowed video vans for publicity with
usual COVID restrictions at designated open spaces with a maximum of 500
viewers or 50 per cent of the capacity or the limit set by SDMA,
whichever is lesser, in the poll-going states subject to public
convenience and no hindrance to smooth flow of traffic.
The poll body said, political parties and contesting candidates will
have to ensure the compliance of COVID Appropriate Behaviour and
guidelines and Model Code of Conduct at all occasions during the
activities connected with elections. All concerned State and District
Authorities will ensure full compliance of these instructions.
Political parties have been advised to conduct their campaign through digital mode as much as possible.
A maximum of ten persons will be allowed for door-to-door election
campaigns by candidates. If a candidate or political party violates any
of the above guidelines, no further permission will be given to the
concerned candidate or party for rallies or meetings.
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(With input from news agency language)
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