Elections in Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand will be held between Jan. 28 and March 3, Chief Election Commissioner S .Y. Quraishi told reporters at a press conference.

Uttar Pradesh will have assembly elections in seven phases from Feb. 4 to Feb. 28, while Uttarakhand, Manipur, Goa and Punjab will have single-phase elections, he said.

Counting of votes in all the five states will be held on March Quraishi said.

“The schedule for the elections was finalized after assessing the availability of paramilitary forces from the government," he said.

Around 80,000 paramilitary personnel, apart from state policemen, are expected to be deployed during the assembly polls.

The model code of conduct comes into effect in all these states with immediate effect, the chief election commissioner added.

The politically most crucial state of Uttar Pradesh, with 403 seats, will witness polling on Feb. 4, 8, 11, 15, 19, 23 and 28, while neighboring Uttarakhand with 70 seats will have polling on Jan. 30.  The polling in 117 seats of Punjab will also be held on Jan. 30.

Northeastern state of Manipur, which has 60 seats, and Goa with 40 seats, will go to polls on Jan. 28 and March 3, respectively.

Uttar Pradesh is expected to witness a fierce political contest between Chief Minister Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party, which is in power in the state; the main state opposition Samjwadi Party led by Mulayam Singh Yadav; the Congress party and the right-wing Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.

The Congress said that it is ready for the polls and will bring 'respite' to the state.

"We are ready, Congress party will fight elections in Uttar Pradesh with all its might. For the last 22 years, UP has gone from bad to worse over issues of caste, religion and corruption. This time we will bring respite to the people of UP from all these issues," said Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh.