Rajya Sabha polls to be held with precautions amid COVID-19

The Election Commission of India has issued a statement saying that strict COVID-19 containment measures must be followed in the upcoming Rajya Sabha election. The election is scheduled to take place on June 19th.

New Delhi: The elections to 18 Rajya Sabha seats that were deferred earlier in view of coronavirus-induced lockdown will be held on June 19th as declared by Election Commission of India (on June 1st).

The Election Commission of India in its statement had said that Chief Secretaries shall depute senior officer from the state to ensure that the instructions regarding COVID-19 containment measures are compiled with while making arrangements for conducting elections.

To ensure the safety of MLAs and staff deputed for polling duties, proper precautions will be followed including sanitization of venue, deployment of health workers and availability of essential equipment. As per sources, Election Commission had also asked the states to file detailed reports on poll preparations and arrangements made for the safety of MLAs.

Only MLAs and officials concerned with polling duties will be allowed to enter polling venues. Social distancing will be followed during the entire process. Thermal screening of every individual entering the poll venue to be ensured. Masks, gloves, sanitizers availability will also be ensured for every person entering the polling venue.

Sanitization of building and disinfectant protocol will be followed during the election process.

Election Commission of India had announced dates for Rajya Sabha polls on February 25. Total 55 seats of members from 17 states were to be filled. 37 members from 10 states were elected uncontested. Polls for remaining 18 seats of 7 States were to be conducted on March 26.

On March 22, Government of India had asked all state government to take all precautions to break the chain of transmission of covid-19 which included the suspension of all train services closure of all activities except essential services like Hospital, medicine shops, telecom etc. After the orders of lockdown, Election Commission on March 24 deferred Rajya Sabha polls and on June 1 the reschedule of polls was declared by the commission.

Seven states to undergo Rajya Sabha polls include Andhra Pradesh(4 seats), Gujarat(4 seats) Madhya Pradesh(3), Rajasthan(3) Jharkhand(2), Manipur(1) and Meghalaya(1).