The decision to advance the Census exercise in four poll-bound states — Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Goa — while deferring the first phase in Manipur has effectively cemented the timeline for the next round of assembly elections in all five states to February-March next year, according to a Times of India report.
Of the five states, Manipur’s assembly term ends first, on March 13, 2027. The terms of the Goa, Punjab and Uttarakhand assemblies expire on March 14, March 16 and March 28, respectively, while the Uttar Pradesh assembly will complete its term only on May 22.
