Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra on Thursday said all political parties in Uttar Pradesh want the Assembly elections to be held according to schedule while ensuring COVID-19 protocol.

Chandra is on a three-day visit to Lucknow to review preparations for the elections slated to be held early next year. He held a series of meetings with representatives of different political parties as well as state and district-level officials. Elections are due in Uttar Pradesh by mid-March.

He said because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of polling booths in the state will be enhanced by 11,000 to maintain proper social distancing, adding that the polling time will also be increased by an hour.

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"I have been told that 86 percent of the people in the state have got the first dose and 49 percent the second shot of Covid vaccine... We have been assured that in 15 to 20 days all eligible people will get their first dose," the chief election commissioner said. "We have asked for increasing vaccination."

"Earlier, a booth was made for 1,500 voters. But keeping in mind the COVID pandemic, the number of voters in each booth has been reduced to 1,250. Because of this, the number of polling booths has increased by 11,000. So, a total of 1,74,351 polling booths will be set up (in Uttar Pradesh)," he said.

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Polling officials will be vaccinated and those eligible will also be given a booster dose. Thermal scanners, masks will be provided at all polling booths and special care will be on maintaining social distancing besides proper sanitisation of booths, he said.

There will be 4,030 model polling booths-- 10 at each constituency --. Also, 800 all-women polling stations will be set up, he said. For the first time, senior citizens and those differently-abled will have the option of casting their votes from their houses, Chandra added.

(With inputs from PTI)

(Edited by : Aditi Gautam)

First Published:Dec 30, 2021 4:12 PM IST