The Election Commission of India on Wednesday announced the schedule for Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Manipur, Uttarakhand and Goa.

The schedule

Uttar Pradesh

Polling in the State will take place in seven phases.

73 constituencies (15 districts) will go to the polls in first phase

The last date of notification is Jan. 17;

The last date for filing of nomination papers is Jan. 24;

The last date for withdrawal of candidature is Jan. 27;

The election date is Feb. 11

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Sixty-seven constituencies in 11 districts will go to the polls in the second phase

The last date of notification is Jan. 20.

The last date for filing of nomination is Jan. 27.

The last date for withdrawal of candidature is Feb. 1.

The polling date is Feb. 15.

Sixty-nine constituencies in 12 districts will go to the polls in the third phase

The last date of notification is Jan. 24.

Last date for filing nomination Jan. 31.

Last date for withdrawal of candidature is Feb. 3.

The polling date is Feb. 19.

Fifty-three constituencies (12 districts) will go to the polls in the fourth phase

The last date of notification is Jan. 30.

The last date for filing of nomination papers is Feb. 6.

Last date for withdrawal of candidature is Feb. 9.

The polling date is Feb. 23.

Fifty-two constituencies (11 districts) will go to the polls in the fifth phase

The last date of notification is Feb. 2.

The last date for filing of nomination is Feb. 9.

The last date for withdrawal of candidature is Feb. 13.

The polling date is Feb. 27.

Forty-nine constituencies in seven districts will go to the polls in the sixth phase

The last date of notification is Feb. 7.

The last date for filing of nomination is Feb. 14.

The last date for withdrawal of candidature is Feb. 18.

The polling date is March 4.

Forty constituencies (seven districts) will go to the polls in the seventh phase

The last date of notification is Feb. 09.

The last date for filing of nomination is Feb. 16.

The last date for withdrawal of candidature is Feb. 20.

The polling date is March 8.

Manipur

Thirty-eight constituencies will go to the polls in the first phase

The last date of notification is Feb. 7.

The last date for filing of nomination is Feb. 14.

The last date for withdrawal of candidature is Feb. 18.

The polling date is March 4.

Twenty-two constituencies will go to the polls in the second phase

The last date of notification is Feb. 09.

The last date for filing of nomination is Feb. 16.

The last date for withdrawal of candidates is Feb. 20.

The polling date is March 8.

Uttarakhand

The last date of notification is Jan. 20.

The last date for filing of nomination is Jan. 27.

The last date for withdrawal of candidature is Feb 01.

The polling date is Feb. 15.

Punjab

The last date of notification is Jan. 11.

The last date for filing of nomination is Jan. 18.

The last date for withdrawal of candidature is Jan. 21.

The polling date is Feb. 4.

Goa

The last date of notification is Jan. 11.

The last date for filing of nomination is Jan. 18.

The last date for withdrawal of candidature is Jan. 21;

The polling date is Feb. 4.

On the recent political developments

On the demand for deferring the Budget, Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi says the Commission is examining the issue and will take a decision in due course.

On the Samajwadi Party dispute, he says, "we have received representations from both the groups. We have also received documents from Ramgopal Yadav. We will keep the precedents in mind while scrutinising the documents and take a decision."

On demonetisation, the CEC says it will check if it has helped in curbing the misuse of black money. "We have received initial reports that it has checked the malpractice."

On whether the Samajwadi Party symbol will be frozen, he says it is a hypothetical question right now.

On the Supreme Court directive on abuse of religion, caste for seeking votes, he says "we will implement the directive."

On charges that the Commission has delayed the announcement to enable the Prime Minister to holding the Lucknow rally, the CEC says that the body has its own mind.

Mr. Zaidi says that political parties requested that the elections be held after Christmas and New Year celebrations. "We finally took the decision yesterday considering the situation in Manipur."

Zaidi briefs media ahead of poll dates announcement

Mr. Zaidi mentions the dates on which the terms of the legislative Assemblies come to an end.

He says 690 constituencies are going to the polls, of which 133 are reserved for SC and 23 for ST. Over 16 crore voters will participate in the polls. A colourful voter guide will be distributed with photo voter slip to voters.

About 1.85 lakh polling stations will be used, an increase of 15 per cent compared to 2012. At every station, four facilitation posters will be displayed.

There will be separate polling stations for women and also all-women managed stations. All polling stations will be disabled-friendly.

An additional affidavit needs to be filed by candidates for on-demand certificates showing no-dues on account of electricity, rent charges, etc. The ballot papers will have a photo of the candidates, will transferred electronically to Service voters.

There will be a Special Operating Procedure for the first and last 72 hours for the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct.

Limits on expenses and rules

Noise pollution during campaign will be discouraged. Adequate security forces will be deployed in advance and area domination will conducted in vulnerable pockets. The EC has already started monitoring the law and order situation in these States. The limit on candidate expenses in U.P., Punjab and Uttarakhand is Rs.28 lakh per head; for Manipur and Goa it is Rs.20 lakh.

The expenditure at party kiosks outside stations will be considered as that of the candidate. Expenses above Rs. 20,000 to be by cheque. Within 30 days of the declaration of results, the candidates are to file an expense declaration.

Instructions issued to the media monitoring committees to check if TV channels are carrying any campaigns for any candidate or party. Expenses will accordingly be included.