EC preparing to conduct Bihar elections amid pandemic, political parties give suggestions

Bihar elections are inching closer and the Election Commission has a humongous task ahead of itself. Never in the history of independent India has an election been conducted amid a pandemic and that is what makes the task of the commission so laborious.

What’s spelling doom for the commission is the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the country. After extensive deliberations, the commission has come up with a set of guidelines for campaigning during Bihar elections.

Many of these suggestions were given to the commission by political parties.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) had asked political parties for their suggestions and remarks by July 31 on the following guidelines:

– Wearing mask while campaigning or meeting large gatherings
– Maintaining social distancing
– Restrictions on large public gatherings at a place including religious places
– Thermal scanning at places of gathering and sanitisation
– Reducing number of voters per booth
– Demarcations outside the booth to maintain social distancing

For Bihar elections, the ECI is considering on putting a cap on the number of voters in each booth, providing election officers with PPE kits, using toothpicks/gloves for pressing the button, demarcation outside the booth for voters etc.

Election Commission sources have told India Today TV that backend preparations for the election are in full swing. Arrangements regarding PPE kits, increased manpower for election, increased number of booths during elections are being done.

While many are in favour of timely elections, some want the polls to be postponed because of coronavirus. Sources told India Today TV that a final decision regarding Bihar elections will be taken soon looking at the Covid numbers in the state at that time.

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