EC to announce poll dates for UP, 4 other states today

The Election Commission will announce on Saturday the dates for assembly polls in the five states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur.

The poll body on Friday held discussions with Home Secretary R K Singh on the availability of para-military forces for the assembly polls in the five states. Around 80,000 paramilitary personnel, apart from state policemen, are expected to be deployed during the polls.

The home ministry conveyed to the Election Commission that it was ready to provide 700 to 800 companies (70,000 to 80,000 personnel) of paramilitary forces for deployment in the five states. Sources said polling in politically-sensitive Uttar

Pradesh is expected to be multi-phased while it will be in one phase in the other four states.

The highest number of paramilitary personnel is expected to be deployed in Uttar Pradesh, the country's most populous state with 403 assembly constituencies.

Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa saw relatively less violence in the past elections. However, Manipur, which has been plagued by insurgency for a long time, may need heavy deployment of forces to ensure peaceful polling.