ITANAGAR, Nov 13 - Expressing concern over the announcement made by the State Election Commission (SEC) to hold the Panchayat and municipal elections in Arunachal Pradesh on December 22, the All Arunachal Pradesh Students� Union (AAPSU) has called for reconsideration of the decision as several quarters are opposing the same in view of the apprehension that COVID-19 infections might increase in the winter season.
The apex students� body, in a release here, cited that the political parties have jointly asked for conducting the elections at a later date. The State Health Task Force constituted by the State Government to tackle the pandemic, has also written to the SEC to defer the proposed elections till the end of the winter season as there are high possibilities of relapse of COVID-19 cases.
Stating that it has been voluntarily working towards tackling the COVID-19 pandemic in the State from the very start and also at times, helping the Health Department and other frontline warriors in its initiatives to contain the virus spread, the AAPSU said, �At the same time, we are very much surprised at the adamance of the SEC on conducting the elections despite unanimous opinion by all political parties and stakeholders to defer the elections till the time is more conducive�.
Further pressing that the SEC should reconsider its decision to hold the polls, the AAPSU said that any spurt in COVID-19 cases, including possible casualties in the rural areas of the State during the ensuing election process, would be the sole responsibility of the SEC.
