ECI announces poll dates of five states today
Elections will be amid a massive surge of Covid pandemic, especially highly infectious Omicron variant, it will be considered as a big challenge to the poll body to conduct polls in five states. ECI will announce poll dates at 3.30 pm today.
New Delhi: The Election Commission of India will announce dates for Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Manipur, and Uttarakhand, today afternoon.
Of the five states going for polls in February-March, the BJP is ruling four and the Congress is in power in Punjab.
With regard to Congress, the party is struggling hard to retain power in Punjab, but the party has divided house in the state. Former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has parted ways with the grand-old party and floated his own outfit and joined hands with bjp.
Chief Minister Charanjit Channi and Punjab Congress President Navjot Singh Sidhu are locked horns. It is a big headache for party high command to resolve the crisis in the party.
With regard to BJP, elections are very much crucial for the ruling dispensation as the Uttar Pradesh Assembly poll is considered as a semi-final for BJP to retain power in 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Yogi Adityanath government has come under fire from the public for its poor handling of the Covid pandemic during the second wave in 2021. MLAs and MPs have openly revolted against the Yogi government for its poor handling of the Covid pandemic.
BJP is facing challenges from Akhilesh Yadav headed Samajwadi party. The state Assembly has 403 seats, in the 2017 Assembly elections, BJP has won 312 seats, the Samajwadi Party won 47 seats and BSP won 19 seats respectively.
Elections will be amid a massive surge of Covid pandemic, especially highly infectious Omicron variant, it will be considered as a big challenge to the poll body to conduct polls in five states. It has sought information from all states regarding vaccination status and the total number of Omicron cases.
In UP, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa, BJP is facing anti-incumbency factors, presence of AAP and Trinamool Congress is also worried the saffron party.
Some safety measures - an extra hour of voting and more polling booths - have been announced, but the biggest concern - thousands attending election rallies - was left unanswered by the Election Commission of India. But ECI passes the buck on the respective state government to prevent the spreading of the Covid pandemic.
