Editorial: Go virtual

Conducting elections in the midst of a massive surge in coronavirus infections could be a daunting task. The coming round of Assembly polls in five States, including Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, may well be the first elections in India without any physical rallies. Given the bitter experience of the previous round of Assembly polls last […]

Conducting elections in the midst of a massive surge in coronavirus infections could be a daunting task. The coming round of Assembly polls in five States, including Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, may well be the first elections in India without any physical rallies. Given the bitter experience of the previous round of Assembly polls last year that had turned out to be super spreaders, the Election Commission must take appropriate steps this time to check the spread and ensure smooth polling. More than the political significance that the coming round of elections holds for the ruling party and the opposition, it is the concerns over public health in the face of a spike in the daily cases that deserve greater attention. There must be a total ban on rallies and public meetings and all parties must comply with the measure. Unhindered mass gatherings, huge political rallies and failure to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour had contributed to the devastating second wave last year. The ruling dispensation must take the major blame for careless behaviour. Virtual campaigning is the way to go in the time of the pandemic. However, the poll panel, which said it will further review the guidelines pertaining to electioneering in the poll-bound States, must be mindful of the digital divide prevailing in the country, particularly in Uttar Pradesh. According to NITI Aayog, UP had only 39 internet subscribers per 100 people, one of the lowest in India. Moreover, only 4% of rural households in the State had a computer. Nearly 50% of women have never used the internet.

While all parties favour holding elections on time in view of the resumption of near-normal economic activity, the onus is on the EC to put in place special precautionary measures to ensure smooth conduct of the polls and also to prevent parties from violating Covid protocols. It must be pointed out that the poll panel was held responsible by the Madras High Court for the spread of the second wave. Chastened by that censure, the EC needs to be extra vigilant this time around. The initial set of guidelines issued by the EC, including the one making it mandatory for all the Central and State government officials deployed for poll duty to have double vaccination, is welcome. Election officials must be treated as frontline workers and administered a booster dose. It must be ensured that all polling stations are equipped with hand sanitisers, face masks and thermal scanners. Given the digital divide and the gulf among political parties in terms of accessing resources and technology tools, ensuring a level-playing field for all parties in what is bound to be a virtual campaign poses a big challenge for the Election Commission.

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