Lucknow, Oct 27 (IANS): The notification for the crucial municipal polls in Uttar Pradesh was issued by the State Election Commission on Friday.

The polls would be held in three phases on November 22, November 26 and November 29, State Election Commissioner S.K. Agarwal told the media.

Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be used in the polls, he added.

Agarwal said the model code of conduct would be in place between November 22 and December 1.

In the first phase, polling would be held in 24 districts. In the second phase, polling would be conducted in 25 districts and in the remaining 26 districts in the third phase.

The votes would be counted on December 1.

The stakes are high for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in these polls as it is in power in most municipal corporations, including in the state capital Lucknow.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is contesting the polls for the first time.

The Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress which had fought the state assembly polls in an alliance earlier this year have parted ways for these polls and are contesting separately.