EC formed a committee to review the mistakes made during the elections in times of Covid crisis

New Delhi, 14th May 2021: A core committee has been constituted by the Election Commission (EC) to identify the shortcomings in the recently concluded state assembly elections. The core committee, headed by the Secretary-General of the Election Commission, will identify the experiences and shortcomings from the recent elections in Assam, Bihar, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and the Union Territory of Puducherry.

The committee will identify shortcomings, gaps in the regulatory system and implement changes.

During the Covid crisis, Assembly elections were held in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry. The Madras High Court had made serious and stern remarks on the Election Commission in these elections. The court had directly held the Election Commission responsible for the second wave.

The core committee has been tasked to identify shortcomings in the regulatory governance of the Election Commission and gaps in implementation at the level of State Chief Electoral Officers and District Officers.

According to a statement issued on Thursday, the committee will also consider the need to strengthen the legal and regulatory framework so that the commission can ensure effective compliance with all guidelines, including the rules regarding COVID-19.

The Election Commission faced allegations that it failed to follow the rules of Covid-19 during the election campaign.

Dismissing the allegations, the commission said that it used its constitutional powers to curb the spread of Covid-19 by shortening the period of publicity and noted that enforcing the provisions of the Disaster Management Act was the responsibility of the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA).

The core committee will also look at measures to strengthen expenditure management regulation for fair elections.

The statement said the recommendations of the core committee would help the Election Commission move forward for the upcoming elections. The ‘core committee’ headed by Election Commission general secretary Umesh Sinha has been asked to submit its report within a month.