The Election Commission will announce the poll dates for elections to five state assemblies including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Manipur, Goa and Uttarakhand on Wednesday, at a press conference that will be held at noon.
The Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi will announce all the crucial details linked to the upcoming elections including a list of dates, the last date of filing nominations, when each state will vote, phases, if any, and the day of counting.
The EC on Tuesday held a meeting with Chief Electoral Officers of the all five poll-bound states to perk up the arrangements. However, the critical law and order situation in Manipur owing to the continuing road blockade by some Naga groups was the focus of attention of the EC.
While the EC may hold a seven-phase poll in UP and single-phased polling in the four other states, with current blockade situation in Manipur, it might go for several phases in the north-eastern state.
The legislative assembly terms of Goa, Manipur and Punjab will end on March 18, while the same will expires on March 26 in Uttarakhand and on May 27 in UP. While Uttar Pradesh has 403 assembly seats, Punjab has 117, Uttarakhand has 70, Manipur has 60 and Goa has 40.
Around 85,000 security personnel will be deployed in the upcoming assembly elections in the five states by Union Home Ministry. Reportedly, around 750 companies of paramilitary forces will be deployed for smooth conduct of the election process in the five states.
