Top officers of the Election Commission on Monday met Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan and reviewed the COVID-19 state of affairs within the wake of the extremely contagious Omron variant forward of meeting elections in 5 states early subsequent 12 months.
The assembly additionally comes after a number of days Allahabad High Court final week urged the Election Commission and the Prime Minister To postpone the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections as a result of risk of Omicron model of COVID-19.
“The commission will leave for Lucknow on Tuesday afternoon for a scheduled election preparedness review meeting and will return on 30 noon,” an Election Commission official stated.
well being ministry Multidisciplinary groups despatched to Uttar Pradesh and Punjab To report vaccinations beneath the nationwide common. The groups, which can be stationed within the states for the following 3 to five days, will assess the state of affairs, counsel remedial motion and submit a report by 7 pm each night.
Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra had additionally stated final Friday that the fee would take a call after reviewing the state of affairs within the state.
The well being secretary had on 23 December directed voting states to “rapidly increase immunization” to guard weak populations, particularly in “low coverage districts”.
Bhushan additionally raised a crimson flag through the overview assembly with all of the states that pockets with low vaccination protection could also be extra weak to the brand new Omron variant, and the district administration should pay particular consideration to vaccination in these pockets. Elections are more likely to be held in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur early subsequent 12 months.
During his go to to Uttarakhand final week, when requested in regards to the Allahabad High Court’s request, Chandra stated he was knowledgeable that Uttarakhand has thus far one case of Omicron. He reiterated the measures taken by the Election Commission to make the election COVID-safe and stated that the Commission will take motion as per the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
Last Friday, the Allahabad High Court urged the prime minister to “take coercive steps” and think about “stopping and postponing” rallies, conferences and elections.
The fee is at present visiting all of the polling states forward of the scheduled meeting elections. It is customary to go to the fee earlier than the announcement of the dates of the elections to the states. Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra, and Election Commissioners Anoop Chandra Pandey and Rajeev Kumar have already visited the polling states of Punjab, Goa and Uttarakhand and are scheduled to go to Uttar Pradesh and Manipur subsequent.
Chandra, throughout his overview go to to Goa, stated that the Election Commission is able to maintain elections in Goa (and by extension, elections in different states are going to be held on the similar time), regardless of the specter of one other wave of the coronavirus pandemic, But it was emphasised that native election officers have been empowered to make sure strict adherence to COVID protocols throughout campaigning, and that voting may even happen with ample precautions.
The present time period of the Legislative Assemblies of Goa, Manipur, Punjab and Uttarakhand ends in March 2022, whereas the time period of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly is about to finish in May.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
