First phase of Uttar Pradesh polls rescheduled

The first phase of Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh to be held on February 4 has been rescheduled and fresh date will be announced soon, the Election Commission said on Sunday citing uncertainty about the date of 'Barawafat' festival, the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad, which may also fall on the same day.

The poll panel said the law and order enforcing agencies and district election officers of the state had also referred to the possibility of the Barawafat festival coinciding with the with the first phase of polls, during the Commission's two-day review meeting in Lucknow last week. A poll panel official told PTI that a revised schedule will be announced soon.

"The Commission has decided that the notification for 60 Assembly constituencies going for poll on February 4 shall not be issued on January 10 as scheduled. This is due to uncertainty about the date of 'Barawafat' festival which may also fall on February 4," an EC statement said.

"The law and order enforcing agencies and DEOs of Uttar Pradesh also raised this point during Commission's review meeting at Lucknow on January 6 and 7. The revised schedule for first phase ACs (60 ACs) will be announced by the Commission separately," it said.

The Commission also requested Uttar Pradesh Governor BL Joshi not to issue the notification for first phase scheduled to be notified on January 10.

According to the earlier announcement, the Uttar Pradesh elections were scheduled for seven phases between February 4 and 28.