LUCKNOW: The first phase of Uttar Pradesh’s assembly election will be held on 8 February. The decision comes in the wake of Barawafat celebrations, the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad, which is to be observed on 4 February.
In UP, 60 constituencies in districts Pilbhit, Rampur, Bareilly, Kheri, Shahjahanpur, Badaun, Moradabad, Bijnor, Bhim Nagar and Jyotiba Phule Nagar were to go to polls on 4 February. After several political parties, especially in Bareilly, gave written undertakings to the Election Commission and requested for a change in polling dates, the Election Commission took the decision to defer to the polling dates to 8 February. An Election Commission official confirmed, “There were concerns people would not be able to come out to exercise their franchise if the polls were held on 4 February, on account of Barawafat celebrations. After examining the merits of this argument, the Election Commission has decided to postpone the polling date of the first phase.” A formal order in this regard, along with the new date of polling, is to be issued by the EC later on Sunday.
Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh are to be held in a seven-phase manner, between February 4 and 28. With the change in dates, the polling will now be held between February 8 and 28.
The Commission has also decided that the notification for the 60 ACs going for poll on 4 February, 2012 shall not be issued on 10 January, 2012, as scheduled. Accordingly, the Election Commission has also requested Governor of Uttar Pradesh, BL Joshi, to not to issue any notification for the first Phase on 10 January, 2012. Nomination to the first phase will now be notified on 12 February, 2012.
Loading...