The forthcoming assembly elections in five states, for which the Election Commission of India today announced poll schedule, would emerge as an acid test to the popularity of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Moreover, these polls are likely to be treated as referendum to Modi’s recent demonetisation move.

This polls also gains prominence as the Congress prediction that BJP is likely to change their Prime Minister if it lose those polls. Particularly, UP results would have greater impact on the Presidential election to be held later this year. If BJP wins UP, it can have its own choice of candidate in Presidential election. Otherwise, it has to seek support from other parties.

Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi said that the state of Manipur will have a two-phase election and Uttar Pradesh will have a seven-phase election, where polls will be held in Goa, Punjab and Uttarakhand at once. Counting for all states will be held on 11 March.

Elections in Goa and Punjab will be held on February 4 in a single phase. Polls in Uttarakhand will be held on February 15. Manipur will go to polls in two phases on March 4 and March 8.

Polls in Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases. First phase on February 11, Phase II on February 15, Phase III on February 19, Phase IV on February 23, Phase V on February 27, Phase VI on March 4 and last phase on March 8.

“690 legislative assemblies will go to polls. Over 16 crore voters will participate in the election. Nearly 100% voters have electoral photo id cards. There will be complete accountability of photo voter slips and colourful voter guides will be distributed to each family,” Zaidi said.

Stating that outside every polling station location there will be a voter assistance booth, Zaidi added, “The height of voting compartments has been raised to 30 inch for secrecy and every polling station will have four posters for voting procedure and dos and don’ts.”