Simultaneous polls in Punjab, four other states in Feb-Mar
Monday, 24/10/2016
http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=167076&boxid=58451&uid=&dat=2016-10-24
New Delhi: Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, which are set to witness game-changer elections, and three other states will go to polls simultaneously, most likely in February-March next, commencing shortly after the presentation of the Union Budget on February 1.
While it will be a single-day polling in Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipur, Uttar Pradesh is likely to have as many as seven phases, sources in the Election Commission said. The BJP, which had swept the Lok Sabha elections more than two years ago, winning 70 of the 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh, is seeking to make a comeback by wresting power after 15 years from the ruling SP. The BSP is expected to give a stiff challenge to both of them. In Punjab, after two successive terms, the ruling SAD-BJP combine is facing a tough battle from Congress on the one hand and a fledgeling AAP on the other.
While the term of the Uttar Pradesh assembly ends on May 27, 2017, those of Goa, Manipur and Punjab end on March 18. Uttarakhand Assembly’s term ends on March 27.
