Omicron threat to UP polls: CEI to meet Union health secretary
The Allahabad High Court has suggested the Elections Commission of India defer the polls due to an increase in Omicron coronavirus variant in the poll-bound UP
New Delhi: Following suggestions of Allahabad High Court to the Elections Commission of India to postpone the Assembly polls, the Elections Commission Chief Sushil Chandra will meet Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Monday.
Election Commission will discuss the Omicron coronavirus situation in poll-bound states of Uttar Pradesh and other four other states due for elections in February-March 2022.
The meeting will be held on Monday before the Commission’s officials visit to December 28 to 30 UP. The Allahabad High Court has suggested the elections commission defer the elections owing to concerns of an Omicron-led third wave in the state.
Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra informed the reporters: "I will be visiting UP next week. An appropriate decision as required by the situation will be taken after we review it."
On Thursday the Allahabad High Court asked the Election Commission to postpone the February-March election. The court also asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ban poll-related gatherings.
"If rallies are not stopped, results will be worse than the second wave," the court said, modifying the Prime Minister's lockdown slogan to add, "Jaan hai toh jahaan hai (if there is life, we have the world)."
Bengal, Assam and Tamil Nadu all witnessed a worrying spike in COVID-19 cases earlier this year after massive crowds at election rallies led by the Prime Minister and opposition leaders.
