Lucknow: In poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, the high-pitch electoral campaign for the Fifth of Seven-Phase Assembly Elections is reaching crescendo today before conclusion of electioneering in the evening. The poll campaign for the subsequent phases in UP and Two-Phase polling in Manipur is going on in full swing. The Star Campaigners and prominent leaders of various political parties are engaged in public rallies. The door-to-door canvassing and virtual appeals to the voters also continue. The party leaders are trying to reach out and woo the voters in different parts of the two states.
The Fifth Phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh will be conducted on Sunday in 61 Assembly Constituencies including nine ACs reserved for the Scheduled Castes from 12 districts. These districts include Shravasti, Bahraich, Barabanki, Ayodhya, Amethi (Chatrapati Sahuji Mahraj Nagar), Raebareilly, Sultanpur, Gonda, Pratapgarh, Kaushambi, Prayagraj, and Chitrakoot district.
The electoral battle scenario in the Fifth Phase of Assembly Elections in Uttar Pradesh indicates that there are total 692 candidates in fray for 61 Assembly seats. Maximum 25 candidates are vying for Pratappur seat while minimum seven candidates each are contesting for seven seats including Milkipur, Payagpur, Barabanki, Zaidpur, Haidergarh, Sadar, and Kadipur seat.
During the First Phase of Assembly Elections in Manipur, thirty-eight seats from six districts will go to polls on Monday out of which one seat is reserved for the Scheduled Castes and eight seats are reserved for the Scheduled Tribes. These districts include Imphal East and West, Bishnupur, Pherzawl, Churchandpur, and Kangpokpi district.
There are 173 candidates including 15 women are contesting for 38 seats in the First Phase. Maximum eight candidates are vying for three seats including Sekmai, Saikot, and Saikul while there is a direct fight between the BJP and Congress candidates in three constituencies including Heingang, Nambol, and Thanga.
The Sixth Phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh will be conducted on 3rd of March in 57 Assembly Constituencies including 11 ACs reserved for the Scheduled Castes from 10 districts. These districts include Ballia,
Balrampur, Siddharth Nagar, Basti, Sant Kabir Nagar, Ambedkar Nagar, Maharajganj, Kushinagar (Padrauna), Gorakhpur and Deoria district.
The scenario of a multi-cornered electoral battle emerged for the Sixth Phase of Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. The final picture shows that there are total 676 candidates in fray for 57 Assembly seats. Maximum 15 candidates each are vying for three seats including Tulsipur, Gorakhpur Rural, and Padrauna while a minimum of seven candidates are contesting for Salempur seat.
In the Second Phase of Assembly Elections in Manipur, 22 seats spread over ten districts will go to polls on 5th of March out of which eleven seats are reserved for the Scheduled Tribes. These districts include Thoubal, Kakching, Jiribam, Chandel, Tengnoupal, Kamjong, Ukhrul, Senapati, Tamenglong, and Noney district. There are 92 candidates including two women are contesting for 22 seats in the Second Phase. Maximum eight candidates are vying for Wangkhem seat while there is a direct fight between the BJP and Congress candidates in two constituencies including Chandel and Nungba.
The Seventh Phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh will be conducted on 7th of next month in 54 Assembly Constituencies including 11 ACs reserved for the Scheduled Castes and two for the Scheduled Tribes from nine districts. These districts include Mau, Azamgarh, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Varanasi, Chandauli, Mirzapur, Sonbhadra, and Bhadohi (Sant Ravidas Nagar) district.
The picture of electoral battle for the Seventh and Last Phase of Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh shows that there are total 613 candidates in fray for 54 Assembly seats indicating largely multi-cornered contests. Maximum 19 candidates are vying for Ghazipur seat while minimum six candidates each are contesting for two seats including Pindra and Shivpur in Varanasi district.
In addition, the Assembly By-Election for the Majuli seat in Assam will also be held simultaneously where there is a triangular contest on cards. The ruling BJP has fielded Bhuban Gam while the Opposition parties have put their weight behind Asom Jatiya Parishad’s Chittaranjan Basumatary while Bhaity Richong of the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) is the third candidate. The By-Poll was necessitated following the resignation of Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal from this seat after being elected to the Rajya Sabha.
In view of the decline in COVID-19 cases, the Election Commission has relaxed the provisions of campaigning in the poll-bound states. The political parties and candidates may campaign from 6 A.M. to 10 P.M. following the COVID Appropriate Behaviour and protocols of State Disaster Management Authority.
The Election Commission took note of a substantial reduction in COVID cases in the country as well as in the poll-bound states. Based on the facts and circumstances, needs of the political parties and candidates for greater participation in elections, the Commission further relaxed the provisions of campaigning with immediate effect.
The Election Commission has relaxed the restriction of using only 50 percent capacity of space for political meetings and rallies. Political parties and candidates can now hold their meetings and rallies subject to State Disaster Management Authority regulations. The poll body has also allowed Road Shows subject to SDMA regulations and with prior permission of the concerned district authorities. All other existing provisions related to electioneering shall continue to operate. The decision was taken in EC’s periodic review meeting of the status of COVID in the country and especially in the poll-bound states.
Earlier, the commission decided to restore the maximum limit on a number of Star Campaigners and the time period for submission of the list of Star Campaigners for all ongoing and future elections with immediate effect. The Commission took the decision in view of the decline in cases of COVID -19 and the gradual lifting of restrictions by the Central and State Governments. It said, now the maximum limit on the number of Star Campaigners for recognized National and State political parties will be 40 and for other than recognized political parties, it will be 20.
