No rallies or roadshows till January 15 in poll-bound states: EC

Election Commission of India announced that no roadshows, padyatras, cycle or bike rallies and processions shall be allowed till January 15. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sushil Chandra said while addressing a press conference.

While announcing election dates for UP, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur, the Election Commission on Saturday said, "No roadshows, padyatras, cycle or bike rallies and processions shall be allowed till January 15 in the poll-bound states.

"The situation will be reviewed and fresh instructions to be issued later," in wake of the COVID-19 surge, Chandra said .

The statement louds, Our civil application should be used by voters to report any incident of violation of the Model Code of Conduct, distribution of money and freebies. Within 100 minutes of complaint, ECI officials will reach the place of the offence," Chandra added.

Uttar Pradesh will go to polls in seven phases from Feb 10 to March 7; Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa to vote on February 14th and Manipur to vote on Feb 27 and March 3. Counting of votes for the five poll-bound states will take place on March 10.

A total of 18.34 crore electors including service voters will take part in the upcoming Assembly elections in Goa, Punjab, Manipur, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh. Goa, Punjab, Manipur, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh are slated to go for Assembly elections this year.

403 Assembly seats are slated to go to polls in Uttar Pradesh, 70 seats are up for grabs in Uttarakhand, 117 seats in Punjab, 40 seats in Goa and 60 seats in Manipur. Out of these 5 poll-bound states, the BJP is in power in 4 states including Goa, Manipur, Uttarakhand

Sources said, all parties also plan to use vans and trucks with LED screens to beam campaign videos across the state, especially in rural areas.