COVID-19 lockdown: EC defers Rajya Sabha polls

Team Udayavani, Mar 24, 2020, 12:26 PM IST

New Delhi: The Election Commission has decided to postpone the Rajya Sabha elections which was scheduled to be held on Thursday in view of the coronavirus outbreak.

Post a review of the situation, after March 31, the Election Commission will announce the fresh date for the polls and counting, sources said.

“The prevailing unforeseen situation of public health emergency indicates the need for avoidance of possibilities of gatherings of any nature, which expose all concerned to possible health hazard,” the Election Commission said in a note.

The polls were to be held for 18 seats namely four each in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, three each in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, two in Jharkhand and one each in Manipur and Meghalaya.