Amid nationwide expectations, the Election Commission of India has on Saturday - January 8 announced the election dates and restrictions for the crucial assembly polls in five states - Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Manipur, and Punjab. While there were speculations that the elections would be deferred in light of the rapid spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, the top electoral body has said that postponing the election would be against democracy. 

Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra has addressed the press conference in Delhi on Saturday during which he unveiled the election dates for the five states. Following the announcement, the electoral code of conduct has taken its force in the states and the introduction of any government schemes and projects till the counting day will be prohibited. The political grounds in these states are heating up and with the election dates, the rivals would be zeroing in the campaigns in these five states. 

As per the announcement from the Chief Election Commissioner, Uttar Pradesh will have seven-phased polls starting from February 10, Manipur will have two-phased polls, while the rest three states - Uttarakhand, Punjab, and Goa will have a single-phase poll. In light of the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Election Commission has announced a slew of restrictions and reformations to conduct the polls without standing on thin ice. Let's take a look at the election dates in each state, counting date, restrictions, and highlights of Chandra's speech. 

Uttar Pradesh: 

BJP ruling Uttar Pradesh will go for the polls in seven phases as the sequel of its population and a large number of constituencies (403). Uttar Pradesh will have seven phases from February 10, 2022, to March 3, 2022. Each phase carries different notifications and dates of filing and withdrawing nominations. 

• First phase: Nomination can be filed from January 14, 2022, and the last date of filing nominations would be January 21, 2022. All the filed nominations will be scrutinized on January 24 and the last date of withdrawing the nominations would be January 27. The polling for the first phase will be conducted on February 10. 
• Second phase: Nomination can be filed from January 21, 2022, and the last date of filing nominations would be January 28, 2022. All the filed nominations will be scrutinized on January 29 and the last date of withdrawing the nominations would be January 31. The polling for the second phase will be conducted on February 14, 2022.
• Third phase:  Nomination can be filed from January 25, 2022, and the last date of filing nominations would be February 1, 2022. All the filed nominations will be scrutinized on February 2 and the last date of withdrawing the nominations would be February 4. The polling for the third phase will be conducted on February 20. 
• Fourth phase: Nomination can be filed from January 27, 2022, and the last date of filing nominations would be February 3, 2022. All the filed nominations will be scrutinized on February 4 and the last date of withdrawing the nominations would be February 7. The polling for the fourth phase will be conducted on February 23. 
• Fifth phase: Nomination can be filed from February 1, 2022, and the last date of filing nominations would be February 8, 2022. All the filed nominations will be scrutinized on February 9 and the last date of withdrawing the nominations would be February 11. The polling for the fifth phase will be conducted on February 27. 
• Sixth phase: Nomination can be filed from February 4, 2022, and the last date of filing nominations would be February 11, 2022. All the filed nominations will be scrutinized on February 14 and the last date of withdrawing the nominations would be February 16. The polling for the sixth phase will be conducted on March 3. 
• Seventh phase: Nomination can be filed from February 10, 2022, and the last date of filing nominations would be February 17, 2022. All the filed nominations will be scrutinized on February 18 and the last date of withdrawing the nominations would be February 21. The polling for the seventh phase will be conducted on March 7. 
• The votes would be counted on March 10th during which the results will be announced. 

Manipur: 

• The Northeastern state of Manipur will have two phases of elections to elect the representatives for its 60 assembly seats. 
• First phase: Nomination can be filed from February 1, 2022, and the last date of filing nominations would be February 8, 2022. All the filed nominations will be scrutinized on February 9 and the last date of withdrawing the nominations would be February 11. The polling for the first phase will be conducted on February 27. 
• Second phase: Nomination can be filed from February 4, 2022, and the last date of filing nominations would be February 11, 2022. All the filed nominations will be scrutinized on February 14 and the last date of withdrawing the nominations would be February 16. The polling for the second phase will be conducted on March 3. 
• The votes would be counted on March 10th during which the results will be announced. 

Besides Uttar Pradesh and Manipur, the three other states, Punjab - 117 assembly seats, Uttarakhand - 70 seats, and Goa - 40 seats will go for the single-phase poll on February 14, 2022, and the votes would be counted on March 10th. The following are the highlights from Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra's address, 

• In these five states, 24.98 lakh voters will be casting their votes for the first time. 
• These five states have a total of 18.34 crore eligible voters of which 8.55 crore are women voters. 
• These five states have 690 legislative constituencies and the people who are above 80 can opt for postal ballots. 
• The Chief Election Commissioner has announced that in view of curbing the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic amid conducting the elections, the Election Commission will introduce a system where the candidates can file their nominations online. 
• It's mandatory for the political parties to disclose the criminal records of their candidates on their respective websites. They also must highlight the reason why they had given tickets for the candidates who have criminal records. 
• With the view of ensuring that the physically disabled people can cast their vote, the polling will be conducted on the ground floors. 
• In light of the Covid spread, the Election Commission will increase the number of polling stations to 16%. 
• The people can share their complaints and grievances about the elections through the 'C-Vigil' mobile application. 
• The officials who would be tasked with the election duties would be administered with the booster Covid vaccines. 
• The voting time in five states will be increased by one hour. 
• All polling booths would be sanitized and the state government officials should have received vaccinations. 
• Sushil Chandra further said that there are no concerns over the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and added that everyone must be proud of these machines.

Restrictions: 

• Physical rallies and roadshows are banned in five states till January 15. 
• The political parties and candidates are advised to carry out the campaigns virtually. 
• The campaigns can be held only from 8 am to 8 pm in these five states. 
• Only five people are allowed for door-to-door campaigns.
• Victory processions, after vote counting, are strictly banned.