Elections in West Bengal and other states will be held on time: Chief Election Commissioner

Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Aurora stated that the Assembly polls in West Bengal and other states will be held on time. Mr Arora also said he is confident that the poll body will be able to hold the next set of assembly polls on time and the internal exercise for those is already underway.  

Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Aurora made allusive remarks about the Assembly polls in West Bengal and other states amid COVID-19 pandemic. 

Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora’s term is till April 13, 2021. “Whichever election falls before that shall be held on time,” Arora said in an interview.

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Mr Arora also said he is confident that the poll body will be able to hold the next set of assembly polls on time and the internal exercise for those is already underway.

Elections are due in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam and Puducherry in May and June next year.

Holding Bihar election amid the pandemic was a challenge that the Election Commission faced with flying colours. The EC’s decision to not postpone the elections was courted with doubts and apprehension.

Mr Arora said, “This time, a major component as added to it, it should also be a safe election. Safe for the electors, safe for the polling officials, safe for all concerned. Maybe proving is not the right nuance. Yes, Election Commission can rise to any challenge and it did rise up to the challenge of Covid-19. Of course, critics may remain, and should also remain as they are also a part of the system.” 

The commission had taken a variety of measures such as reducing the number of voters per polling station from 1,500 to 1,000 to ensure distancing. This meant an addition of 33,000 polling stations.