NewsBytes
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    More
    In the news
    Supreme Court Of India
    Central Bureau Of Investigation (CBI)
    Indian Army
    Indian Railways
    Indian Air Force
    NewsBytes
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    NewsBytes
    User Placeholder

    Hi,

    Logout


    India Business World Politics Sports Technology Entertainment Auto Lifestyle Inspirational Career Bengaluru Delhi Mumbai Visual Stories Find Cricket Statistics Phones Reviews Fitness Bands Reviews Speakers Reviews

    Download Android App

    Follow us on
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Linkedin
     
    Home / News / India News / Omicron scare: EC decision on postponing assembly polls likely today
    India

    Omicron scare: EC decision on postponing assembly polls likely today

    Omicron scare: EC decision on postponing assembly polls likely today
    Written by Pratyush Deep Kotoky
    Dec 27, 2021, 11:38 am 3 min read
    Omicron scare: EC decision on postponing assembly polls likely today
    The Election Commission is likely to seek updates on the prevailing COVID-19 situation and the emergence of the Omicron variant.

    The Election Commission of India (ECI) will hold a meeting with senior officials of the Union Health Ministry on Monday to discuss the prevailing COVID-19 situation ahead of assembly elections in five states. The meeting was reportedly scheduled to start at 11 am on Monday and will be attended by Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan.

    Why does it matter?

    • State assembly elections are due in five states: Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
    • The development comes as India is witnessing a gradual increase in COVID-19 cases involving the Omicron variant.
    • India's Omicron tally has reached 578 within a month.
    • Last week, the Allahabad High Court had requested the EC to postpone polls in UP.

    EC to seek update about COVID-19: Report

    Reportedly, the EC is likely to seek updates from Bhushan about the prevailing COVID-19 situation and the emergence of the Omicron variant. The commission may also seek suggestions from Bhushan on improving its COVID-19 protocol for poll campaigning, polling days, and the dates for counting. The EC is reportedly expected to announce election dates next month.

    EC team to visit UP this week

    Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra said on Friday that his team would visit UP this week to review the COVID-19. It will then make an "appropriate" decision about the elections. Chandra's statement came in response to the Allahabad HC's request to postpone the state polls. Notably, the EC has already visited Punjab, Goa, and Uttarakhand as part of its pre-poll stock-taking exercise.

    Allahabad HC urges EC, PM to ban political rallies

    Last week, the Allahabad HC had urged the EC to postpone UP assembly polls by one-two months due to Omicron. "If rallies are not stopped, the results will be worse than the second wave," Justice Shekhar Yadav had said. The HC also urged PM Narendra Modi and the EC to immediately ban rallies and public meetings of political parties in the state.

    Centre sends multidisciplinary teams to UP, Punjab

    Separately, the Union Health Ministry has also sent multidisciplinary teams to UP and Punjab to assess the situation and suggest remedial actions. The teams will have to submit a report daily by 7 pm. The teams are tasked with looking at contact tracing, COVID-19 testing, enforcement of COVID-19 appropriate behavior, availability of hospital beds, ventilators, and medical oxygen, and progress in vaccination.

    India reports 156 new Omicron cases

    Meanwhile, India's Omicron tally has reached 578 after 156 new infections involving the variant were detected on Sunday. Maharashtra and Delhi topped the list of worst-hit states with 141 and 142 cases, respectively. The number of states and union territories that have reported these infections has now touched 19. A total of 151 patients infected with Omicron have been discharged so far.

    Share this timeline
    Facebook
    Whatsapp
    Twitter
    Linkedin
    Latest
    Punjab
    Uttar Pradesh
    Election Commission of India (ECI)
    COVID-19

    Latest

    Sameer Wankhede owns 4 flats, made multiple foreign trips: Report Narcotics Control Bureau
    After 10-month ban, BGMI is returning to India; Krafton confirms Ministry of Electronics and IT
    IPL 2023, DC vs CSK: Decoding the key player battles  Indian Premier League (IPL)
    Prabhas to collaborate with Hanu Raghavapudi on romantic drama: Reports Telugu Films

    Punjab

    Punjab: Cop slapping woman farmer during protest caught on camera Punjab Police
    Bypolls results: AAP wins Jalandhar parliamentary seat with huge margin Jalandhar
    Amritsar: Third blast reported near Golden Temple, suspects nabbed Amritsar
    Wanted pro-Khalistani terrorist Paramjit Panjwar shot dead in Lahore    Khalistani

    Uttar Pradesh

    Umesh Pal murder: Police lookout notice against Atiq Ahmed's wife Umesh Pal
    UP: School teacher arrested for allegedly sexually abusing 18 girls Shahjahanpur
    UP municipal election results: BJP leading in 16 mayoral seats Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
    UP: Man arrested for drinking inside police station, cop suspended Saharanpur

    Election Commission of India (ECI)

    Never sent EVMs to South Africa: ECI dismisses Congress's claims Congress Party
    Bengaluru: ECI stops VHP members from reciting Hanuman Chalisa Bengaluru
    BJP moves EC over Sonia Gandhi's 'Karnataka sovereignty' remark Sonia Gandhi
    Pre-poll seizures cross Rs. 300 crore in Karnataka: ECI Karnataka

    COVID-19

    COVID-19 update: India logs 865 new cases, 4 deaths Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
    Why Singapore Airlines hands staff eight months' salary in bonus Singapore Airlines
    India records 906 COVID-19 cases, 20 deaths in 24 hours India
    India to become world's fastest-growing economy in 2024: UN India

    Love India News?

    Subscribe to stay updated.

    India Thumbnail
    Indian Premier League (IPL) Celebrity Hollywood Bollywood UEFA Champions League Tennis Football Smartphones Cryptocurrency Upcoming Movies Premier League Cricket News Latest automobiles Latest Cars Upcoming Cars Latest Bikes Upcoming Tablets
    About Us Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Contact Us Ethical Conduct Grievance Redressal News News Archive Topics Archive Download DevBytes Find Cricket Statistics
    Follow us on
    Facebook Twitter Linkedin
    All rights reserved © NewsBytes 2023