UP elections: Urban local body polls in Uttar Pradesh to be held on May 4, 11

Much-awaited dates for Uttar Pradesh urban local body polls are out. The Uttar Pradesh State Election Commission on Sunday announced that the urban local body polls in the state will be held in two phases, on May 4 and 11.

On Sunday, UP state election commissioner Manoj Kumar issued a notification to inform about the elections.

"The voting for the urban local body polls will be held on May 4 and 11," he told reporters in Lucknow.

He informed that the model code of conduct across the state has come into force after the issuance of the election notification.

Urban body polls were supposed to be held in the state in November, but the state government postponed them citing the non-implementation of OBC quota.

However, the Supreme Court on March 27 had paved the way for holding the urban local body polls in the state as it allowed the state election commission to issue a notification in this regard in two days with an OBC quota in terms of a report of the Uttar Pradesh Backward Classes Commission.

The elections will witness the political parties, including the ruling BJP and principal opposition Samajwadi Party, trying to strengthen themselves ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The politically crucial state sends 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha.

(With inputs from PTI)