All parties want UP polls to be held in time: Election Commission
New Delhi, Dec 30: The Election Commission has said that the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections 2022 should be held on time. The ECI however added that the elections should be held with all precautionary measures, following COVID-19 protocols.
Chief Election Commissioner, Sushil Chandra said that the representatives of all party had met and said that the elections should be conducted on time. He also said that VVPATs will be installed at all voting booths and live webcasting facilities will be available at around 1 lakh voting booths to ensure transparency.
He further added that parties including the ruling BJP, Samajwadi Party, Congress and Bahujan Samaj Party had said that the polls must be held. The parties also came up with several suggestions on how the vulnerable groups in the population can be protected against COVID-19.
"We have heard the concerns of all parties. Representatives of all political parties said elections should be held on time by following Covid protocol. All parties have raised the issue of rallies being held in violation of Covid protocols and asked for restrictions to be put in place," Chandra said.
"We
have
taken
cognisance
of
all
points
raised
by
the
political
parties
and
we
will
conduct
an
inclusive
election
in
which
no
voter
will
be
left
behind,"
Chandra
also
told
reporters
at
a
press
briefing.
Chandra
had
visited
UP
following
a
request
of
the
Allahabad
High
Court
to
defer
the
polls
due
to
a
spike
in
COVID-19
cases
and
its
new
variant
Omicron.
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Chandra
also
said
that
in
the
2017
UP
elections
the
voter
turnout
was
61
per
cent.
In
the
Lok
Sabha
elections
held
in
2019
the
turnout
was
59
per
cent.
It
is
a
matter
of
worry
why
the
voting
percentage
is
less
in
a
state
where
the
political
awareness
among
the
people
is
high.
He
said
that
voting
during
the
assembly
elections
will
be
held
between
8
am
6
pm.
Chandra also added that all officials on poll duty will be fully vaccinated. The CEC also added that it is necessary to be speed up COVID-19 vaccinations in poll bound states. Those who have tested positive for COVID-19 can vote from home he added.
The CEC also said that the number of new voters in the age group of 18 to 19 years is three times more when compared to the previous elections. The duty of the ECI is to ensure a fair and COVID-19 free election. Keeping in view the ongoing pandemic, we have reduced the number of voters per booth from 1,500 to 1,200, Chandra said.