Much maligned Election Commission talks of Assembly Polls in 5 more states in 2022

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sushil Chandra in a recent interview exhibited confidence to conduct yet another round of Assembly elections in 5 states – including Uttar Pradesh and Punjab - during the ongoing Covid-19 induced pandemic next year. The false bravado is notwithstanding adverse observations of various Courts, and a negative perception in most citizens of them being Covid super-spreaders, maybe due to the support it enjoys in the ruling Central dispensation.

Sushil Chandra was talking about their preparedness for the five assembly polls due early next year, chest beating that they have gained a lot of experience from the electoral exercise in Bihar, West Bengal and four other assemblies amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The terms of Goa, Manipur, Punjab and Uttarakhand legislative assemblies are coming to an end in March 2022, while the legislative assembly of Uttar Pradesh’s term is scheduled to end in May too.

Many experts feel that just like, the recently deferred Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and Assembly bypolls, as well as biennial legislative council elections deferment due to the second wave of Covid-19, next year’s elections should also be kept in abeyance, as these events have the potential to spread Covid-19 virus far and wide.

“As you are aware that the second wave of COVID-19 is also receding and the numbers (of infections) are quite less. We have experience… We have learned various experiences on how to hold polls during the pandemic also. I am very much sure that with the receding pandemic now, and I wish the pandemic is over soon, we will absolutely be in a position to hold elections next year which are scheduled in five states on time, as per the schedule,” Chandra said.

Earlier apart from various scathing to downright derogatory observations by Judges, medical experts too felt that Election Commission – the poll watchdog with full vajra kavach – did not do anything that was expected from it. Most political leaders, mainly the contenders, were seen blatantly flouting Covid protocols – and when no action was taken against them - they rest followed suit.

Uttar Pradesh, has approximately 14.66 crore voters, Punjab just over 2 crore, Uttarakhand has 78.15 lakh, Manipur 19.58 lakh and Goa has 11.45 lakh electors. The five states together have an estimated 17.84 crore voters. This shows how much of a risk these elections can be of.

The second wave had the most devastating effect in Uttar Pradesh due to two main reasons - that most of the 9 million devotees who had visited Haridwar for a customary dip in the Ganges during the Maha Kumbh hailed from Uttar Pradesh; and the just concluded Panchayat Elections. One can imagine the potential extent of virus spread the Elections in Uttar Pradesh can bring.