New Delhi: India’s first virtual mode elections will be held for Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipur due to the surge in the Covid pandemic and Omicron new variant. 

All political parties have welcomed the Election Commission decision of announcing a virtual mode of elections.

The Election Commission will conduct elections to five states with three core objectives, first is Covid safety elections, hassle-free voting and maximum voter participation in the elections said Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra.

Before announcing seven phases of elections to five states starting from February 10 to March 7, ECI has done a meticulous plan to conduct free and fair polls.

Due to the rise in Covid positivity rates and highly infectious Omicron variant, the ECI has banned all types of political rallies, padayatra, roadshow, indoor and outdoor elections meetings. It has asked political parties and candidates to switch to the virtual mode of campaigning to reach voters.

Total 24.9 lakh new voters will cast their votes in the first virtual mode of elections this time and a total of 11.34 crore voters will take part in five states elections.

The ECI has adopted Covid safety measures to conduct elections by reducing voters per polling station from 1500 to 1250 voters. Total 2.15 lakh polling stations have been formed with an increase of additional 30,000 polling stations.

To encourage women participation in the elections, 1620 polling stations will be completely managed by women staff in five states. ECI has formed one women polling station in each Assembly constituency.

First time Election Commission has facilitated online filing of nominations to the candidates to avoid physical contact during the Covid pandemic.

900 Elections observers, expenditure observers and special observers have been deputed to conduct elections in five states.

Commission has made the compulsory publication of criminal records of the candidates. It has been made mandatory for all political parties to give proper reasons to field candidates with criminal records and the same has to be uploaded in the official websites of political parties.

The ECI has also allowed Covid positive infective patients to cast their votes with precaution. All polling stations will be provided with masks, sanitisers and thermal screening.

To encourage a virtual mode of campaigning ECI has increased the election expenditure per candidate from Rs. 28 lakh to 40 lakh.

Candidates, voters and political parties can file the complaint regarding a violation of the model code of conduct through cVigil app. ECI has asked voters and candidates to download Cvigil app to file a complaint on the distribution of money, liquor, freebies and any type of inducement to the voters. The complainant can send the picture through cVigil app, Commission will take action with no time for such violation.

Commission has asked political parties and candidates to use social media platforms for campaigns. Zoom, Facebook, Twitter and other types of social media platforms can be used by the candidates for campaigning.

Mr. Sushil Chandra said that any postponement of the elections after the expiry of five years tenure violates article 171(1) of the Indian Constitution. It is the constitutional obligation of the Commission to conduct elections before or after the expiry of five years terms to the Assembly.

The ECI said that Goa and Uttarakhand have achieved 99.9 percent and 83 percent of double vaccination respectively. After the intervention of the Commission Uttar Pradesh has achieved 52 percent of double vaccine and 90 percent of the single-dose vaccine. Punjab has achieved 43 percent of double dose vaccine and Manipur has achieved 43 percent of double vaccination. In five states total of 15 crore people have taken the first dose and 9 crore people have taken two doses of vaccine.

In all states, the Covid positivity rate is less than 3 percent. In UP, the positivity rate as on January 8, is .24%, Punjab 2.1%, Manipur 1%, due to the new year bash, the positivity rate in Goa has crossed 20 percent, the Commission explained.

Besides for conduct Covid safety elections, the Commission has appointed health nodal officers at the district and Assembly levels.