The Election Commission of India on Monday met Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan and assed the Covid situation in five poll-bound states. According to sources, the poll body and health ministry
are scheduled to meet again in the first week of January and will make a decision on the postponement of assembly elections.
On Monday, officials from the Health Ministry and the Election Commission reviewed the COVID-19 situation and instructed the Narcotics Control Bureau's top brass to check the influence
of drugs in elections.
According to sources familiar with the meeting, Mr Bhushan briefed the poll body on the Covid situation in the country. Elections are scheduled to take place in the five states- Uttarakhand,
Manipur, Goa, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh in early 2022 (February-March). At the same time, experts have anticipated that the omicron-led third wave of Covid infection will peak in February.
The anticipation has become the major concern for the election commission and health administrations in India.
"It was an information gathering session. The situation was reviewed by the panel based on statistics provided by the Ministry of Health," said a close source.
The EC was also briefed on the Covid protocols and guidelines issued by Home Ministry to combat the Covid spread.
The election commission also interacted with the top brass of NCB, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Border Security Force (BSF) and was directed to ensure
that drugs do not influence elections.
According to the sources, the panel specifically mentioned Punjab and Goa in relation to drug smuggling.
In the next meeting, the Election Commission is anticipated to declare election dates. However, the analysts believe polls are unlikely to be deferred, despite a rise in Omicron cases.
Meanwhile, the poll panel is set to visit Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday to assess the poll preparations in the BJP-ruled state.