The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Dec 29: Elections to the 9th Manipur Legislative Assembly is to be held in three phases, on February 8, 15 and 23 next year. The Election Commission of India announced the election schedule for Manipur along with two other states - Punjab and Uttaranchal - today.

According to agency reports, Manipur will witness a three-phase polling on February 8, February 15 and February 23 whereas the elections to the Punjab and Uttaranchal assemblies will be on February 13 and February 21 respectively.

By-elections for the Amritsar Parliamentary seat will also take place on February 13. Former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu had resigned from the seat after being convicted of culpable homicide.

Counting of votes in all three states will take place on February 27.

"With the announcement of poll schedules, the model code of conduct has come into force in these three states with immediate effect," Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami told reporters in New Delhi, agency reports said.

Electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be used in all the three states.

Gopalaswami has also reportedly said election notification for the three-phased polling in Manipur, would be issued on January 13, 20 and 27.

The last date for nominations in Manipur would be January 20 and 27 and February 3.

Scrutiny of papers would be conducted on January 22 and 29 and February 5 while the last dates of withdrawals would be January 24 and 31 and February 7.

While Punjab has 117 assembly seats, Uttaranchal has 70 and Manipur 60.

The polls would be held on the basis of the revised electoral rolls with the cut off date of January 1, 2006.

Gopalaswami said that digital cameras would be installed inside sensitive polling stations and the Commission would be posting its observers in various constituencies.

In the meantime, as of late this evening, no official message had been received from the Election Commission of India by the state government, regarding the election schedule.

However, sources in the state election office said, elections in the Assembly segments falling within Thoubal, Ukhrul and Senapati districts are likely to be held in the first phase, on February 8, 2007.

Polls in the Assembly segments belonging to Imphal east (excluding Jiribam), Imphal west and Bishnupur districts are expected to be held on February 15.

Elections in Jiribam Assembly constituency, and in the Assembly segments of Chandel, Tamenglong and Churachandpur districts are likely be held in the last phase, on February 23.

 

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