Assembly elections: Yogi’s battle for 37 years; There was a stir in Punjab due to the turmoil of the farmers and the Congress. India News – Times of India

New Delhi: The Election Commission on Saturday announced voting in seven phases from February 10 to March 7 in five states – Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand. Manipur and Goa – setting the stage for an intense, mouth-watering competition that will impact the status and morale of key players in the build-up to the 2024 elections.
One-day polling will be held in Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa on February 14, while Manipur will vote in two phases on February 27 and March 3.
Polling in UP will be held in seven phases on February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27 and March 3 and 7. Lok Sabha Majority in 2014 and 2019 apart from giving a comprehensive verdict for the saffron party in the 2017 state election. Counting of votes for all the states will take place on March 10.

https://www.datawrapper.de/_/SA0If/

Apart from determining who wins in Uttar Pradesh, which is the state’s biggest among the national players, which is especially important for the BJP, the election will help the Congress reverse the story of its steep decline and challenge the party leadership. also give the opportunity to remove. Outside. The results of UP, while important for SP and BSP leaders Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati, will be crucial for the chief minister. Yogi Adityanath As the BJP wins, his place in the saffron sect will be secured and a premium will be put on his flamboyant politics. It is also a personal challenge – no UP chief minister has been re-elected since 1985.

https://www.datawrapper.de/_/J26dA/

Moreover, the competitions hold the key to the viability of the national ambitions of AAP and Trinamool, which are working hard to expand their footprint beyond Delhi and Bengal, in that order.
announced amid the boom of covid In matters, the state elections also represent a challenge to the Election Commission, which was criticized by many for allegedly failing to take adequate action to contain the spread of Covid during the West Bengal and Assam elections last year. Went. The Election Commission on Saturday justified its decision to hold elections and said it was committed to conduct free, fair and secure elections before the end of the term of the respective state assemblies.

“Article 172(1) of the Constitution of India expressly states that every Legislative Assembly … unless soon dissolved, shall continue for five years … and no longer … at the time Conducting elections is the essence of maintaining democratic governance,” Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra, which was surrounded by election commissioners Rajiv Kumar and Anoop Chandra Pandey talked about announcing the polling dates in the press conference. The terms of the respective five state legislatures are set to expire from March 15, 2022.

The Election Commission on Saturday clarified that it had studied the COVID situation closely in consultation with the health ministry, home ministry, state administration and medical experts before formulating a detailed protocol for COVID-safe elections. This includes reducing the number of voters per polling station from 1,500 to 1,250; Asking voting states to speed up their vaccination rates, ensuring all polling staff are vaccinated, including a precautionary dose, and banning physical rallies, road shows, padyatras and processions until January 15 which will be reviewed by the Election Commission. “Dynamic” Covid situation.
“We must believe that we can get through this particular pandemic as well, through our safeguards and through covid-appropriate behaviour… only then can we proceed through the electoral process, as we did in the previous two (assembly) round) in the elections. too,” said Chandra.
It announced revised COVID guidelines, which prohibit physical rallies, road shows, padyatras, vehicle rallies and processions, till January 15. The Election Commission advised the parties to conduct their campaigns as much as possible instead of digital, virtual, media platforms and mobile-based modes. physical mode. However, as and when the Election Commission allows physical rallies during the campaign period depending on the situation, they will have to follow the COVID guidelines with a maximum limit of participants as per the extant instructions of the State Disaster Management Authority. However, no rallies will be allowed between 8 pm and 8 am on campaign days.
The Election Commission further directed that the Chief Secretary at the State level and the District Magistrate at the District level by the NDMA and the concerned SDMAs shall be primarily responsible for monitoring, monitoring and strict enforcement of the issues of the Election Commission’s COVID norms and guidelines during the election process. will be responsible. It further clarified that its broad guidelines are being comprehensively amended to “not to supplement and replace” the mandate or responsibility of officers or committees under the Disaster Management Act.
Chandra said that the Election Commission can not only take strict action against those officials who fail to implement the guidelines of COVID, but will also cancel the future rallies of parties and candidates in case of serious violations.

,