New Delhi, December 26: Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttaranchal and Manipur will be held between February 13 and 21 next with a three-day poll slated for Uttar Pradesh on February 14, 18 and 21, the Election Commission announced today.

Punjab and Uttaranchal will have one-day poll on February 13 and 14 respectively, while in Manipur it will be a two-day poll on February 14 and 21, Chief Election Commission JM Lyngdoh told reporters here after a full meeting of the Commission.

Counting of votes in all states will be done on February 24.Lyngdoh said Electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be used in all Assembly constituencies of Punjab, Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh, while they will be used for the first time in six Assembly segments of Manipur.

As per the schedule announced by the Commission, the notification will be issued on January16, last date of filing nomination is January 23, scrutiny will take place the next day and last date for withdrawal of candidature is January 28.To a specific question as to whether the polls would be postponed in the event of a war with Pakistan, he said �obviously, we cannot be insensitive to what is happening around us.

Elections are not more important than the interests of the country.

But we will see when the times come.� Lyngdoh said the model code of conduct has come into force from today in all the State going for State Assembly elections.

He said 400 observers were being deputed by the Commission to oversee the process of election.

The code of conduct will be applicable to all political parties and the State governments, Lyngdoh said.