High stakes battle for UP from Feb.11 as EC sounds poll bugle

New Delhi [India], Jan. 4 (ANI): The Election Commission of India on Wednesday announced seven-phase polling for 403 assembly constituencies in the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh, two-phase polling in Manipur and one-phase polling each in the states of Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa respectively. Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi said that the counting of votes in all the five states will take place on March 11. He said that Model Code of Conduct comes into force from today. As per the announcement, the first-phase of polling for 73 assembly constituencies covering 15 districts of Uttar Pradesh will take place on February 11. The date of notification in this phase is January 17, the last date of nomination is January 24, the scrutiny of nomination will take place on January 25 and the withdrawal of candidature will take place on January 27. The second-phase of polling for 67 assembly constituencies covering the bordering districts with Uttarakhand will take place on February 15. The date of notification in this phase is January 20, the last date of nomination is January 27, the scrutiny of nomination will take place on January 28 and the withdrawal of candidature will take place on January 30. The third-phase of polling for 69 assembly constituencies covering 12 districts of Uttar Pradesh will take place on February 19. The date of notification in this phase is January 24, the last date of nomination is January 31, the scrutiny of nomination will take place on February 2 and the withdrawal of candidature will take place on February 4. The fourth-phase of polling for 53 assembly constituencies covering 12 districts of Uttar Pradesh will take place on February 23. The date of notification in this phase is January 30, the last date of nomination is February 6, the scrutiny of nomination will take place on February 7 and the withdrawal of candidature will take place on February 9. The fifth-phase of polling for 52 assembly constituencies covering 11 districts of Uttar Pradesh will take place on February 27. The date of notification in this phase is February 2, the last date of nomination is February 9, the scrutiny of nomination will take place on February 11 and the withdrawal of candidature will take place on February 13. The sixth-phase of polling for 49 assembly constituencies covering seven districts of Uttar Pradesh will take place on March 4. The date of notification in this phase is February 8, the last date of nomination is February 15, the scrutiny of nomination will take place on February 16 and the withdrawal of candidature will take place on February 18. The seventh-phase of polling for 46 assembly constituencies covering seven districts of Uttar Pradesh will take place on March 8. The date of notification in this phase is February 11, the last date of nomination is February 18, the scrutiny of nomination will take place on February 20 and the withdrawal of candidature will take place on February 22. Goa will vote in a single-phase on February 4. The date of notification is January 11, the last date of nomination is January 18, the scrutiny of nomination will take place on January 19 and the withdrawal of candidature will take place on January 21. Punjab will also go for polls in a single-phase on February 4. The date of notification is January 11, the last date of nomination is January 18, the scrutiny of nomination will take place on January 19 and the withdrawal of candidature will take place on January 21. Uttarakhand will vote for 70 assembly constituencies in a single-phase on February 15. The date of notification is January 20, the last date of nomination is January 27, the scrutiny of nomination will take place on January 28 and the withdrawal of candidature will take place on January 30. Manipur will vote for 60 assembly constituencies in two-phase on March 4 and 8 respectively. The date of notification for 38 assembly constituencies in the first phase is February 8, the last date of nomination is February 15, the scrutiny of nomination will take place on February 16 and the withdrawal of candidature will take place on February 18. The date of notification for 22 assembly constituencies in the second phase is February 11, the last date of nomination is February 18, the scrutiny of nomination will take place on February 20 and the withdrawal of candidature will take place on February 22. Zaidi said over 16 crore voters will exercise their democratic rights in these five states. The terms of the legislative assembly of Goa, Manipur and Punjab will expire on March 18, and Uttarakhand on March 26. The legislative term of Uttar Pradesh Assembly ends on May 27. The Election Commission yesterday held a meeting with the Chief Electoral Officers of these five states to fine tune the arrangements for the assembly polls. More than 160 million voters will participate in these elections. Voting will be conducted in as many as one lakh 85,000 polling stations. Electronic Voting Machines will be used in all five states. (ANI)