SEC team to visit Bihar for lessons on holding polls amid pandemic

GUWAHATI: The election to the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), which has been put on hold due to Covid-19, is likely to be held only after the State Election Commission (SEC) has a first-hand ground experience of how the EC conducts the three-phase assembly election in Bihar between October 28 and November 7 under the pandemic condition.
Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “The health department has made it clear that it is not safe to conduct the BTC polls till November 30.” He added that the chief minister will soon call an all-party meeting to review the situation.
“We are following the Bihar elections and a decision will be taken based on the Bihar experience. The SEC team will visit Bihar and get a first-hand experience of conducting election under the pandemic situation,” Sarma said. The SEC conducts all the state elections, inclduing the autonomous council polls.
The state health department had earlier written to the SEC to either further postpone or put on hold the BTC election, saying that holding polls during the Covid-19 pandemic would create a “disaster” and the situation will turn unmanageable.
The health department’s reason for postponing the polls was that the virus will not just be confined to the four districts under the administration of BTC, but will spread to neighbouring districts as well if the election is not put on hold.
The BTC poll, scheduled for April 4, was postponed indefinitely in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. With the expiry of the term of the council in the absence of fresh election, the governor, on April 28, had assumed charge of the administration in accordance with provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution under which the council functions.
In the 17 years of the setting up of BTC, it was for first time that the Governor’s Rule was imposed on the BTC-controlled four districts. The term of the Governor’s Rule expires on October 27 after which either the election could be held or the Governor’s Rule could be further extended.
The health department has made it clear that it is not safe to conduct the BTC polls till November 30.” He added that the chief minister will soon call an all-party meeting to review the situation