Mutant virus may put AP local body polls behind

Amaravati: The State Election Commission's plans to hold elections to the local bodies in February may go for a toss with the emergence of a new strain of Covid-19 in Britain. This particular strain has already led to cancellation of air services to and from Britain by several countries. Some countries have gone ahead and declared lockdown for a week or two.

Reports already suggest the entry of the new variant into India too. It is reported that recently around 280 or so passengers landed in Bengaluru International Airport from London and some of them are found to be positive for corona virus.

However, it is not confirmed whether some of the infected are carrying the mutated virus. Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has announced that a monitoring committee was being set-up to check the emergence of the new strain in the country. This comes at a time when the country is gearing up to roll out its vaccination programme. Andhra Pradesh has done remarkably well in containing the virus so far and its medical facilities have been upgraded.

But, is the State ready for the local body elections? This is a far cry from the truth. There is little chance that anyone could talk of the conduct of elections with a new strain of corona virus stalking us. Secondly, this has to be coupled with the rolling out of the vaccination plan.

The State Government is awaiting the Centre's guidelines in this regard. These are the initial stages of the new strain but as it is expected to spread very fast, there is little that one could do except adopting precautionary measures.

The local body elections at this juncture would not be to the liking of the State Government more than any. A litigation is already on this issue. The SEC has approached the AP High Court recently seeking cooperation from the State Government in conducting the elections in February. Upon receiving a favourable court order, the SEC knocked the doors of the AP Secretariat only to be rebuffed by the latter.

The State Government had submitted to the court its affidavit against the same but the HC ruled it out. The SEC has again filed a contempt petition in the country. Coming at this juncture, the news of this new strain, is not welcome news for the SEC. The Government which "is planning implementation of the vaccination protocol" is bound to raise this development in the court to seek an order against the conduct of elections.