State polls unlikely to be postponed due to omicron scare

The Election Commission of India consults with Health Secretary and seeks details on vaccine coverage

Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra

TT Bureau, Agencies   |   New Delhi   |  27.12.21: Five state elections scheduled early next year are unlikely to be postponed, according to a report on ndtv.com.

This follows an Allahabad High Court appeal to the Election Commission of India "to defer the vote by a month or two over the omicron surge."

"If rallies are not stopped, results will be worse than the second wave," Justice Shekhar Yadav said, adding that, "Jaan hai toh jahaan hai (if there is life, we have everything)." 

"The Election Commission is likely to stick to the schedule and follow the constitutional mandate of polls before the term of the state assemblies end. Elections are due in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipur," reported ndtv.com..

In the wake of an omicron rise, the Election Commission on Monday consulted with the Health Secretary seeking details "on vaccine coverage and infections, sources told NDTV. The Election Commission also discussed the need for strict Covid protocol."

The poll panel will visit Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday to gauge the state's election preps. "Officials will also meet the chiefs of paramilitary forces on force deployment for the polls," ndtv.com added. 

Rally crowds have been on a high in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab with an uptick in cases of omicron.