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Nominations open for assembly polls

The process of filing nominations for next month's crucial assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttaranchal and Manipur began on Wednesday with the issue of notification.

Polls in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Uttaranchal, to be held between February 13 and 21, are likely to have a bearing on the National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre and could influence the elections to the posts of the president and the vice president due later this year.

By-elections for six Lok Sabha seats and seven assembly constituencies will also be held along with the assembly polls.

The election commission has postponed by-elections in Saidapet and Vaniyambadi assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu after it found that the process of revision of electoral rolls there was "not proceeding in accordance with the law and prescribed procedures".

The by-election from Andipatti assembly constituency, from where All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief J Jayalalithaa is likely to contest, will be held on schedule.

Polling in Uttar Pradesh will be spread over three days -- February 14, 18 and 21. Punjab and Uttaranchal, which will have the first legislative assembly elections, will go to polls on February 13 and 14. Manipur will go to poll on February 14 and 21.

The last date for filing of nominations will be January 23. Scrutiny will take place the next day and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is January 28.

The seven assembly constituencies where by-elections will be held are Yamunanagar (Haryana), Arvi (Maharashtra), Ajmer West (Rajasthan), Andipatti (Tamil Nadu), Sayajiganj, Mahuva and Rajkot-11 (Gujarat).

Vacancies arose in Jammu, Kanakapura and Tripura West due to the deaths of Vishu Dutt of the Bharatiya Janata Party, M V Chandrasekhra Murthy of the Congress and Samar Choudhury of the Communist Party of India - Marxist.

Electronic voting machines will be used in all the assembly constituencies of Punjab, Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh, while they will be used for the first time in six assembly segments of Manipur.

Political parties will be required to maintain separate accounts of election expenses till the process is completed.

PTI

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