Political parties want elections to be conducted on time: CEC

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sushil Chandra said on Thursday that all political parties in Uttar Pradesh met the poll panel and urged that Assembly elections should be held on time following all Covid-19 protocols.

Addressing a press conference in Lucknow, Chandra said that there would be no delay in conducting the upcoming Assembly polls in the state. “The tenure of Uttar Pradesh Assembly ends on 14 May. Representatives of all political parties met us and told us that elections should be conducted on time following all Covid-19 protocols. We have also met all district magistrates and superintendents of police of the districts, other senior officers. We also met GST, ED, IT officials. We want to keep elections free of corrupt practices. These agencies have given clear instructions to ensure the same,” he said.

He further said that people over the age of 80, those with disabilities, and those affected by Covid-19 will be able to vote from home.

“People above 80 years of age, persons with disabilities, and Covid-affected people who are unable to come to the polling booth, the Election Commission will reach their doorsteps for a vote,” he said.

The CEC said that the final list of voters will be released on 5 January, adding that voting will be held from 8 am to 6 pm on the date of polling.

“Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPAT) will be installed at all voting booths. Live webcasting facilities will be available at around 1 lakh voting booths to ensure transparency in the election process,” he said.

“The staff deployed at voting booths across the state will be fully vaccinated,” he added.

Talking about big political rallies being held ahead of the elections amid surging Covid-19, Chandra said, “We have discussed this issue with the health secretary here. When elections are announced, we will issue directions specifically on this issue looking at the situation then.”

CEC Chandra said that Uttar Pradesh has 54.8 lakh new voters. He also said “it’s a matter of worry” on why the voter turnout was low in the state.

“61% voter turnout was recorded in 2017 UP Assembly elections. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, voter turnout in UP was 59%. It a matter of worry why the voting percentage is less in the state where there is high political awareness among people,” the CEC said.

A delegation of the Election Commission of India (ECI) is on a three-day visit to Uttar Pradesh to review the preparations for the upcoming polls to ensure free and fair elections.

The Assembly elections in the state are scheduled for next year.