Congress always follows the guidelines set by EC, says Harish Rawat

Welcoming the EC's instruction for the upcoming election, Congress leader Harish Rawat said, "We are absolutely ready to ring the farewell bell for BJP in Uttrakhand. Congress will contest in all 70 seats."

Image credit: IANS

New Delhi: Congress leader Harish Rawat on Saturday (January 8) said, "We welcome the announcement of election dates for Uttarakhand. Congress always abides by the code of conduct and the guidelines set by the Election Commission." Rawat's statement came after the EC announced the dates for assembly polls in five states along with the guidelines code of conduct to be followed during the elections.

Welcoming the EC's instructions, Punjab Cabinet Minister Raj K Verka said, "We wanted the EC to impose strict rules on COVID guidelines, which they've done. I'm sure Punjab will vote in big numbers, we'll promote our manifesto via social media, TV, and other media forms." 

The Election Commission of India today announced the dates for assembly polls in five states at 3.30 pm. The poll body, in a press conference, declared the schedule for the much-awaited polls in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab and Manipur.

While the term of the current Uttar Pradesh assembly is ending in May, those of the other four assemblies are ending in March.

08 January 2022

16:35 IST

Equitable distribution of seats for Uttar Pradesh in seven phases; Voting phases move West-to-East in terms of state's geographic spread: EC

16:28 IST

Uttarakhand Assembly Elections for 70 constituencies of the hill state will take place on February 14 in a single phase. The counting of the poll-bound constituencies will be March 10.

16:27 IST

UP Assembly polls will be held in seven phases between February 10 and March 7. The result will come out on March 10, EC said.

16:27 IST

Goa will go to the polls from February 14. According to the announcement, all the 40 constituencies of the state will go to voting in a single phase.

16:27 IST

The Assembly elections 2022 in Manipur will be conducted in a two-phase, on February 27 and March 3, 2022. 

16:25 IST

The Punjab Assembly Election 2022 will be held in the single phase on February 14 for 117 constituencies. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.

16:17 IST

Sufficient CAPF companies will be deployed in all poll-bound states looking at law & order situation and threat perception: Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra

16:17 IST

Counting of votes will take place on March 10.

16:15 IST

Uttar Pradesh to go to poll in 7 phases from 10th Feb to 7th March; Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa to vote on 14th February & Manipur to vote on 27th Feb & 3 March; Counting of votes on 10th March: ECI

16:10 IST

Assembly elections in all five states will be completed in total seven phases: CEC Sushil Chandra

16:06 IST

COVID19 | No roadshows, padyatras, cycle or bike rallies and processions shall be allowed till 15th January; situation to be reviewed and fresh instructions to be issued later: CEC Sushil Chandra

16:06 IST

No physical rally of political parties or probably candidates or any other group related to elections shall be allowed till January 15. ECI should subsequently review the situation and issues further instructions accordingly: CEC Sushil Chandra

16:06 IST

All election officials and employees will be considered as frontline workers and all eligible officers will be vaccinated with 'precautionary dose': CEC Sushil Chandra

16:05 IST

CEC Sushil Chandra reads a couplet while announcing the measures to be taken by ECI for the conduct of safe elections, "Yakeen ho to koi raasta nikalta hai, hawa ki oat bhi lekar chirag jalta hai."

#WATCH | CEC Sushil Chandra reads a couplet while announcing the measures to be taken by ECI for the conduct of safe elections, "Yakeen ho to koi raasta nikalta hai, hawa ki oat bhi lekar chirag jalta hai." pic.twitter.com/eStC7tnu98

— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2022

15:53 IST

Model Code of Conduct (MCC) comes into effect immediately from announcement of the schedules. Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements for ensuring the effective implementation of the MCC guidelines. Any violation of these guidelines will be strictly dealt with: CEC

Our cVIGIL application should be used by voters to report any incident of violation of the Model Code of Conduct, distribution of money & freebies. Within 100 minutes of complaint, ECI officials will reach the place of offence: CEC Sushil Chandra pic.twitter.com/KbJGitnMaR

— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2022

15:52 IST

It is mandatory for political parties to upload on their website detailed information regarding individuals with pending criminal cases selected as poll candidates. They will also have to give a reason to select the candidate: CEC Sushil Chandra

15:51 IST

EVMs and VVPATs will be utilized in all the polling stations. Election Commission has already made arrangments to ensure an adequate number of EVMs and VVPATs for the smooth conduct of elections: CEC Sushil Chandra in Delhi

15:49 IST

Senior citizens above 80 years of age, persons with disabilities & COVID19 patients can vote by postal ballot: CEC Sushil Chandra on 5 States polls

15:49 IST

ECI has mandated that at least one polling station managed exclusively by women shall be set up in every Assembly constituency. Our officers have identified much more than that. There're 690 Assembly seats but we are setting up 1620 such polling booths: CEC Sushil Chandra

15:43 IST

A total of 18.34 crore electors including service voters will take part in this election out of which 8.55 crore are women electors: CEC Sushil Chandra on 5 States polls

24.9 lakh first-time electors are registered in the 5 States including Uttar Pradesh: CEC Sushil Chandra pic.twitter.com/P6AEIFkQqv

— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2022

15:42 IST

Elections to be held for 403 assembly seats in UP, 117 in Punjab, 70 in Uttarakhand 60 in Manipur and 40 in Goa: CEC Sushil Chandra

15:42 IST

As COVID cases soared in view of Omicron variant, ECI held meetings with Union Health Secretary & Home Secretary, experts, & health secretaries of States. After taking these views & ground situation, ECI decided to announce polls with safety norms in place: CEC Sushil Chandra

15:31 IST

Live: Election Commission of India announces Assembly polls schedule for Goa, Punjab, Manipur, Uttarakhand & Uttar Pradesh

#WATCH Live: Election Commission of India announces Assembly polls schedule for Goa, Punjab, Manipur, Uttarakhand & Uttar Pradesh https://t.co/c9oDf6AdJd

— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2022

15:30 IST

Election Commission of India to announce the schedule for Assembly elections to Goa, Punjab, Manipur, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh shortly. 

Election Commission of India to announce the schedule for Assembly elections to Goa, Punjab, Manipur, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh shortly pic.twitter.com/PzkiNkTjIT

— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2022

15:27 IST

Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra along with ECI officials arrives at Vigyan Bhawan, to announce poll schedule for five States including Uttar Pradesh. 

Delhi | Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra along with ECI officials arrives at Vigyan Bhawan, to announce poll schedule for five States including Uttar Pradesh pic.twitter.com/Okjg2MI7a9

— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2022

14:47 IST

CEC Sh Sushil Chandra along with ECs Sh Rajiv Kumar & Sh Anup Chandra Pandey, to address a Press Conference today @ 3:30 pm to announce Schedule for General Elections to Legislative Assemblies of Goa, Punjab, Manipur, Uttarakhand & UP.

CEC Sh Sushil Chandra along with ECs Sh Rajiv Kumar & Sh Anup Chandra Pandey, to address a Press Conference today @ 3:30 pm to announce Schedule for General Elections to Legislative Assemblies of Goa, Punjab, Manipur, Uttarakhand & UP.

Watch Live: https://t.co/Drkj8MtrW5 pic.twitter.com/P7euBdzEAi

— Election Commission of India #SVEEP (@ECISVEEP) January 8, 2022

14:09 IST

UP to get 150 CAPF companies in first phase for polls

In view of the forthcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, a total of 150 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel are being provided to the state by the Centre in the first phase, officials said. These include 50 companies of the Central Reserved Police Force (CRPF), 30 companies each of the Border Security Force (BSF), the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and 20 companies each of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the Indo-Tibetan Border (ITBP).

13:14 IST

Man carrying knife climbs stage at Harish Rawat's rally in U'khand

A man with a knife in hand climbed the stage minutes after Congress leader Harish Rawat had finished his speech at a rally in Kashipur in Udham Singh Nagar district recently and began shouting "Jai Shree Ram". However, Youth Congress workers soon overpowered him and handed him over to the police. The man was mentally unstable, Kashipur Additional Superintendent of Police Chandra Mohan Singh said.

12:31 IST

Priyanka Gandhi to kickstart virtual campaign in Uttar Pradesh from today

After the Uttar Pradesh Congress called off its rallies and woman`s marathons in the poll-bound state due to the surge in COVID-19 cases, party`s General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is set to launch virtual campaign from today. According to the sources, Priyanka will be addressing the "Ladki hun Lad Sakti hun" campaign through the social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube where she will be interacting with the public by taking questions from them.

12:30 IST

Congress CEC to declare second list soon

Congress party`s Central Election Committee (CEC) held a meeting on Friday to discuss the names of candidates for the upcoming Goa Assembly elections. Chaired by Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi, the meeting was held virtually. The meeting held for more than an hour, sources said. According to sources, In the CEC meeting, names for seven candidates have been finalized.

12:29 IST

Poll-bound Uttarakhand bans political rallies

Political rallies, dharnas and demonstrations have been banned in poll-bound Uttarakhand till January 16 in view of the rising coronavirus cases, according to an official order. In fresh guidelines issued late Friday night that come into effect from Sunday, Chief Secretary SS Sandhu said all political rallies, dharnas, demonstrations and public events like cultural gatherings etc will remain suspended in the state till January 16.

In view of the rising #COVID19 cases, Uttarkhand govt imposes new restrictions-all political rallies and protests in the state will be prohibited till January 16. All schools and anganwadi centres will also remain closed till January 16 pic.twitter.com/lclnKQOmYM

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) January 8, 2022

12:25 IST

Poll-bound Goa Limits Gatherings

Amid the rise in COVID-19 cases in Goa, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced that public gatherings in the poll-bound coastal state has been limited to 100 people in outdoor venues and 50 per cent of the sitting capacity or maximum 100 in cases of indoor venues. "Maximum 100 people will be allowed at the venue at any one point in time. However, people coming in and going out of the venue will not be counted to calculate the capacity limit," said Sawant.

12:10 IST

While the term of the current Uttar Pradesh assembly is ending in May, those of the other four assemblies are ending in March.

12:09 IST

The Election Commission will announce the dates for assembly polls in five states at 3.30 pm today (January 8, 2022). The poll body has convened a press conference in which it will declare the schedule for the much-awaited polls in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab and Manipur.