When asked about the violation of COVID-19 rules in political rallies amid rising Omicron infections, Niti Aayog's Dr VK Paul on Thursday said it is the domain of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
"It is in the domain of the Election Commission and it is not the right forum to take up this issue," news agency ANI quoted Dr VK Paul as saying.
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Earlier in the day, Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra said all political parties in Uttar Pradesh want the Assembly elections to be held according to schedule while ensuring Covid protocol.
The number of polling booths will be enhanced and the voting time increased by an hour, he said, adding polling officials will be vaccinated and those eligible will be given a booster dose.
The CEC also asked the state to step up vaccination.
On a three-day visit to Lucknow to review preparations for the elections slated to be held early next year, Chandra held a series of meetings with representatives of different political parties as well as state and district-level officials.
Elections are due in Uttar Pradesh by mid-March when the term of the Yogi Adityanath government ends.
The Allahabad High Court had on December 23 suggested the Central government defer the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections due to a possible Omicron-led third Covid wave. Chandra had said that an appropriate decision will be taken on the issue after his Uttar Pradesh visit.
"I have been told that 86 per cent of the people in the state have got the first dose and 49 per cent the second shot of Covid vaccine... We have been assured that in 15 to 20 days all eligible people will get their first dose," the chief election commissioner said on Thursday.
"We have asked for increased vaccination." The situation arising out of the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus was also reviewed. It has been noted that "there was not much impact of the latest variant in the state where only four cases were reported and three of them have recovered", Chandra said.
He said because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of polling booths in the state will be enhanced by 11,000 to maintain proper social distancing.
Polling time will also be increased by an hour, the CEC said.
"Earlier, a booth was made for 1,500 voters. But keeping in mind the Covid pandemic, the number of voters in each booth has been reduced to 1,250. Because of this, the number of polling booths has increased by 11,000. So, a total of 1,74,351 polling booths will be set up (in Uttar Pradesh)," he said.
Polling officials will be vaccinated and those eligible will also be given a booster dose. Thermal scanners, masks will be provided at all polling booths and special care will be on maintaining social distancing besides proper sanitisation of booths, he said.
To ensure free and fair elections and to ensure a level playing field, the election commission ordered the transfer of officials who have been posted at one place for over a year after various political parties cast their aspersions over this.
Around 5,000 policemen have been transferred and the remaining will be transferred soon, the CEC said.
There will be 4,030 model polling booths-- 10 at each constituency --. Also, 800 all-women polling stations will be set up, he said.
For the first time, senior citizens and those differently-abled will have the option of casting their votes from their houses, Chandra added.
(With PTI inputs)
