EC grants permission for Maharashtra election amid COVID-19 for CM Uddhav

As per sources, the election commission has given the go-ahead to conduct MLC election in COVID-19 stricken state of Maharashtra, clearing the way for incumbent Uddhav Thackeray, who is not a member of either of two houses to remain the chief minister.

New Delhi:Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday granted permission for holding elections to Legislative Council in Maharashtra, clearing the way for the incumbent Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray to officially remain the chief minister. The constitution requires him to become a member of either of the two houses of Maharashtra legislature before or on May 28.

Since CM Uddhav Thackeray is not a member of either house of the State Legislature, he needs to get elected to the Council before 27th May 2020. The Election Commission had withheld the election process for these seats following the COVID-19 outbreak.

According to reports, elections to the Legislative Council in Maharashtra will be conducted on May 21 in Mumbai.

As per sources the elections will be conducted amid amidst COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown provided precautions as advised by Health Ministry are taken and MLAs follow social distancing while casting vote. EC can appoint an officer of the Health Department to assist the state Chief Electoral Officer.

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The permission comes hours after Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s letter to EC requesting to declare elections for nine vacant council seats in the state.

The Governor had made the request to end the current uncertainty in the State. In his letter, the Governor had stated that the Central Government has announced many relaxation measures regarding the enforcement of lockdown in the country. As such the elections to the council seats can be held with certain guidelines, he has said.

On Thursday, all three ruling parties in Maharashtra Govt wrote a letter to EC asking for MLC elections. On Friday morning, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray Maharashtra Governor and earlier called Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting latter to intervene to end a political crisis in the state.