MUMBAI: The Maharashtra legislature secretariat has sought advice from the Election Commission of India (ECI) on how Covid-19 positive legislators can cast their ballot for the June 10 Rajya Sabha elections. Seven candidates are in fray for six Rajya Sabha seats in Maharashtra.
In the general elections, Covid-19 positive voters, with PPE kits, are allowed to exercise their franchise during the last hour of voting, however, for Rajya Sabha elections, instructions will have to be sought from the ECI.
“As per the Rajya Sabha election rules, the voter must show his ballot paper to the party whip, so that he will know if the voting is in accordance with the party directives or otherwise. The moot question is that if the voter is Covid-19 positive, then how he will show the ballot paper to the whip. We have sought clarity on this issue,” Rajendra Bhagwat, principal secretary of Maharashtra legislature secretariat, told TOI.
Bhagwat further said that while the Maharashtra legislature secretariat will not ask for RT-PCR test results, before the legislators enter the council hall, their body temperature and oxygen levels will be checked. ‘We will make necessary arrangements for this,” he added.
Currently, leader of opposition and former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis is the only voter who has tested positive for Covid-19. He is expected to be able to cast his vote as the polls are four days away. However, in view of the fresh surge in Covid-19 cases and the fact that legislators from across the state will reach Mumbai in a day or two, the Maharashtra legislature secretariat has sought guidance from the Election Commission of India.
A NCP leader, on condition of anonymity, said that the possibility of a sudden spurt in cases is not ruled out and it is expected that political parties will take all possible measures to ensure that their legislators are not infected and strictly follow Covid protocols.
