For the first time in the history of Uttar Pradesh, the Lok Sabha elections would be held in five different phases. In the years 1999 and 2004, the elections were held in three phases.

Sources in the office of the state's Chief Electoral Office said the state would be able to get adequate forces during polls owing to the ECI's decision to hold the elections in five phases.

The notification for the first phase of elections would be issued on March 23.

The voting would take place on April 16 in 16 constituencies of the state's eastern parts.

These constituencies are Maharajganj, Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, Deoriya, Bansgaon (SC), Lalganj (SC), Azamgarh, Ghosi, Salempur, Ballia, Machchalishahar (SC), GHazipur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Mirzapur and Roberstganj (SC).

The notification for the second phase of elections will be issued on March 28. The voting would be held on April 23 in 17 constituencies.

These constituencies are Amethi, Sultanpur, Pratapgarh, Banda, Kaushambi (SC), Phulpur, Allahabad, Faizabad, Ambedkar Nagar, Kaiserganj, Shrawasti, Gonda, Dumariyaganj, Basti, Sant Kabir Nagar, Jaunpur and Bhadohi.

The notification for the third phase of constituencies would be issued on April 2.

The voting would take place in April 30 in 15 constituencies. These constituencies are Sitapur, Hardoi (SC), Mishrikh (SC), Unnao, Mohanlalganj, Lucknow, Rae Bareli, Kanpur, Akabarpur, Jalaun (SC), Hamirpur, Jhansi, Fatehpur, Barabanki (SC) and Bahraich.

The notification for the fourth phase will be issued on April 11.

In this phase, a total of 18 constituencies will go to poll on May 7. These constituencies are Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautambudha Nagar, Bulandshahr (SC), Aligarh, Hathras (SC), Mathura, Agra (SC), Fatehpur Sikari, Ferozabad, Manpuri, Etah, Farrukahabd, Etawah (SC) and Kannauj.

The commission would issue notification for the fifth phase on April 24.