Page 203 - Leap of Faith Vol - 2

Elections during a Pandemic Chapter 7

Possibly for the first time in independent India, The elec ons to 403 seats in U ar Pradesh was staggered
announcement of elections was followed by a ban on into seven phases with actual polling taking place on
physical rallies including road shows, Pad-Yatras, February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27 and March 3 and 7. Goa,
cycle/bike/vehicle rallies and processions. The prohibition U arakhand and Punjab went for single phased poll,
was for a limited duration, and was periodically reviewed. whereas polls in Manipur were completed in two phases.
This ban, reviewed by the Health Secretary, Government The voter turnout was 81.89 percent in Goa, 90.28 percent
of India and CSOs of States every week, was extended in Manipur, 72.15 percent in Punjab, 65.41 in U arakhand
several times until February 12. 61.03 percent in U ar Pradesh inclusive of postal ballots.

However, political meetings, both indoor and outdoor, Hammer, as a saying goes, sha ers the glass but forges the
were permitted as per guidance of respective State iron. The adversity of COVID-19 condi on, while it
Disaster Management Authority (SDMA). The political threatened the democra c processes, brought out the
parties were made responsible for distribution of masks me le in Elec on Commission of India to meet the
and sanitisers at entry and exit points. Door to door challenge in its face. The Elec on Commission, while
campaign, in a limited fashion, was also permitted. As the conduc ng COVID-safe elec ons, laid equal emphasis on the
COVID-19 situation steadily improved in the country, par cipa on, inclusiveness, transparency and voter
more particularly in the poll bound states, restrictions friendliness. The two years of the pandemic have le major
were gradually eased. The situation had normalised by lessons for the electoral management. They would not be
mid-February. lost upon our minds in the days ahead.

Rajiv Kumar, CEC, Sushil Chandra,
the then-CEC & Anup Chandra
Pandey, EC flag off SVEEP vans,
Punjab Legislative Assembly Election
2022

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