New Delhi: Two senior officials who are members of the team attached to India’s election commissioners, which visits poll-bound states for ground review, have tested positive for Covid-19, a senior official in the Election Commission of India told ThePrint Wednesday.
The official further said that the current surge of Covid-19 across the country, along with these officials’ positive tests, led the election commissioners to review poll preparedness in Manipur through a video conference Wednesday, instead of a physical visit.
In a few weeks, five states are set to hold assembly polls — Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur. In December, the chief election commissioner and the two election commissioners, along with the team, visited the first four, but decided to take the virtual route for Manipur.
At least one of the two officials who have tested positive was part of the team in all four visits. The team returned from Uttar Pradesh on the evening of 30 December. The two officials tested positive on 3 January, the official told ThePrint.
“We do not have a count of the total number of officials who have tested positive so far. All officers who are contacts of the two who have tested positive have been asked to isolate. The ones who tested positive and their contacts are currently working from home. They are in stable condition,” said the senior EC official, who did not wish to be identified.
Manipur video conference
Representatives of political parties in Manipur and officials of the State Election Commission and the state government joined the video conference with Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra, and election commissioners Rajiv Kumar and Anup Chandra Pandey.
They discussed concerns of possible pre-poll violence and issues that include money invested in campaigns, liquor, drugs, and political party members allegedly trying to intimidate voters, the EC said in a press statement.
In the meeting, the EC said in its statement, it asked the state officials to ensure 100 per cent vaccination by the time of the polls — the dates for which are yet to be announced. The commission also said it would ensure that elections are held in full adherence of Covid-19 protocols.
(Edited by Shreyas Sharma)
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