By TCN News,
New Delhi: The Election Commission of India today decided to hold Phase-1 of UP Assembly elections on 3rd March, in place of 4th February which was earlier announced. Now the counting of votes for all five states will be held on 6th March, in place of 4th March. All other Phases in UP will remain unchanged.
The Commission took the decision in view of the likely commencement of Barawafat (Birth/Death anniversary of Prophet Muhammad) on 4th February.
During the Commission’s meetings with representatives of the political parties and review meeting with Divisional Commissioners, DMs-cum-DEOs, IGs/DIGs/SPs on 6th & 7th January, 2012 at Lucknow, it was pointed out that though the date of “Barawafat” festival in UP is, presently notified as 5th February, 2012 by the State Govt, the date of festival can fall on 4th February, 2012.
“Further, the law and order enforcing agencies provided to the Commission fresh inputs with respect to maintenance of Law & Order, availability and movement of security forces, logistics and other issues in various phases of conduct of elections,” said the Commission in a statement this evening. Based on updated assessment of ground situation by election machinery of the State and keeping in view also the overall poll schedule in five States, the Commission has now decided the following Election Schedule for the aforementioned 60 ACs of Uttar Pradesh –
1. Issue of Notification— 06.02.2012 (Monday)
2. Last date of making Nominations— 13.02.2012 (Monday)
3. Scrutiny of Nominations— 14.02.2012 (Tuesday)
4.Last date for withdrawal of Candidatures— 16.02.2012 (Thursday)
5. Date of Poll— 03.03.2012 (Saturday)
6. Counting of Votes— 06.03.2012 (Tuesday)
7. Date before which election shall be completed— 09.03.2012 (Friday)
The Election schedule for other phases of UP Assembly Election shall remain the same, except the date of counting, which shall now be 6th March, 2012.
The Commission has further decided that the counting of votes in all the five States namely Manipur, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh shall also be done now on 6th March, 2012 instead of 4th March, 2012.