ECI Likely To Announce Assembly Elections For Five States In January, Say Sources

Last Updated:November 09, 2026, 3:46 PM IST

Election Commission to announce poll schedule after visits by CEC and 2 Election Commissioners to poll-bound states; full bench visits likely to begin in late November or December

A photo of the Election Commission of India (PTI)

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is likely to announce the schedule for Assembly elections in five states in the first half of January, according to sources. Assembly elections are due in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa.

The announcement is expected to come after the visits of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and the two Election Commissioners to all five poll-bound states. The full bench of the Election Commission is likely to begin its visits in the last week of November or sometime in December, sources said.

The dates for the visits of the three Election Commissioners will be finalised only after the completion of the DEC-level visits to all five states. The Election Commission’s DEC-level teams are expected to complete their visits by the end of November.

The DEC-level visits to Punjab, Uttarakhand and Manipur have already been completed. In Uttar Pradesh, one visit has taken place, while two more visits by DEC-level teams are scheduled. The DEC-level team’s visit to Goa is yet to take place.

Once the visits to all five states are completed, the DEC-level teams will submit their respective reports to the three Election Commissioners. Following this, the Chief Election Commissioner and the two Election Commissioners will undertake visits to the poll-bound states.

During the DEC-level visits, Election Commission teams hold meetings with District Election Officers (DEOs) and Superintendents of Police (SPs) to review preparations for the Assembly elections.

The full bench visits, however, involve a wider set of consultations. Apart from DEOs and SPs, the CEC and the two Election Commissioners hold meetings with the Chief Secretaries, Directors General of Police (DGPs) and representatives of political parties in the respective states.

Sources said there has been no discussion within the Election Commission so far on the number of phases in which the Assembly elections will be conducted.

While Punjab, Goa and Uttarakhand are likely to witness single-phase polling, Uttar Pradesh is expected to go to polls in multiple phases. The polling arrangements and final election schedule will be decided by the Election Commission closer to the announcement.

The developments are based on inputs from sources familiar with the Election Commission’s preparations.

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Which five states are expected to hold Assembly elections announced by the ECI?

Assembly elections are due to be announced by the Election Commission of India for the states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur, and Goa.

What is the procedure of DEC-level and full bench visits before the election announcement?

DEC-level teams first visit the poll-bound states to review preparations with District Election Officers and Superintendents of Police, and later submit reports. Following this, the full bench comprising the Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners visit the states to hold extensive consultations with Chief Secretaries, DGPs, and political parties.

How many phases are expected for the upcoming Assembly elections across the states?

While states like Punjab, Goa, and Uttarakhand are likely to experience single-phase polling, Uttar Pradesh is expected to conduct its Assembly elections in multiple phases.

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