Page 192 - Leap of Faith Vol - 2

Leap of Faith Journey of Indian Elections

fresh elections in those states/UT. The turn of 2021 raised The elections to the five states/UT were announced on
hope about abatement of the pandemic. India started its February 26, 2021 at a press conference in New Delhi. The
COVID-19 immunisation programme on January 16, 2021 polls involved an electorate of 187.2 million (18.72 crore)
for targeted categories. Ahead of the announcement of across 824 Assembly Constituencies. Tamil Nadu, Kerala
elections to the Legislative Assemblies in five states/UT, and Puducherry were scheduled for single phase on April
the then Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora told 6, 2021. A three-phased polling was scheduled in Assam
media that all polling officials would be treated as frontline on March 27, April 1 and April 6, 2021. The polls in West
workers, who would be vaccinated on priority basis. Bengal were staggered into eight phases- March 27, April

By the turn of 2021, the scourge of the pandemic was at its 1, April 6, April 10, April 17, April 22, April 26 and April 29.
lowest ebb in the country, and held the promise of ending The number of phases is decided based on multiple factors
soon. The national average positivity rate in January, 2021 such as history of insurgency, political violence, status of
had fallen to mere 2 (two) percent. The political parties law and order, availability of central forces for
were also in the favour of timely elections. deployment, etc.

SVEEP outreach programmes underway in Tamil Nadu

174