Aiming to counter a “misinformation campaign” regarding holding panchayat elections in the midst of the pandemic, the Uttar Pradesh government clarified that the three-tier local bodies elections were being conducted in compliance with directions of the Allahabad High Court. The government maintained that it was in compliance of the HC order that the UP government had to conduct panchayat polls despite Covid scare.
It is noteworthy that these elections were due in December last year itself but due to first wave of COVID-19 pandemic, reorganisation and delimitation of panchayats were delayed. In the writ petition number 23377 of 2020 filed by, Vinod Upadhyay against the State of Uttar Pradesh, the Allahabad High Court in its order dated February 4, 2021, directed the UP State Election Commission to complete the election process of panchayats by April 30, 2021. In compliance, the state government initiated the process of reservation and allotment by March 15, 2021.
It was clarified that the state government did not want to conduct panchayat elections in 2021, but it was not possible to defy the orders of the High Court. The Allahabad High Court had asked the Uttar Pradesh government to complete the direct election process of the panchayats by May 10, 2021.
However, even under the shadow of pandemic, panchayat elections were being conducted observing Covid protocols issued by the state poll panel. In view of the second wave, not more than five persons were allowed to accompany a candidate in door-to-door campaigns. No voters were allowed to cast their vote without wearing a mask and facility of hand wash was also made available at each polling booth. Along with that, social distancing was being followed. Instructions have also been issued to make circles maintaining a distance of six feet between voters standing in the queue.
The four-phase panchayat elections in Uttar Pradesh started from April 15. Counting of votes and declaration of result will take place on May 2. Voting for the third phase of the elections will be held on April 26 with more than 3.52 lakh candidates in the fray in over 2.14 lakh seats across 20 districts of the state.
Keeping this in mind, the state government was putting all energy to ensure the safety of voters. With an aim to ensure proper cleanliness and sanitisation and preventing the spread of infection in gram panchayats, special sanitation drive has been intensified in villages by the state government. Under the special sanitation drive, cleaning, sanitization and fogging is being carried out across all the revenue villages in 75 districts of the state.