Elections In States Must Not Be Allowed To Play Spoilsport
Freelance contributor
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By Partha Roy
First publised on 2021-01-03 13:42:34
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Freelance contributor
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After prolonged suffering for a span of nine months, a silver lining is seen with some recovery on the economic front and experts are quite upbeat about a rebound in the GDP which had contracted abysmally to 23.9 per cent during April-June quarter. With Covid vaccination slated to rollout from this month, the economy may rebound by as much as 7.6 to 9.2 per cent. On the fiscal side, the highest ever GST collections of Rs 1.15 lakh crore in December has boosted the government's kitty. Good GST collections for the last three months will ensure healthy public spending which is urgently needed to give a shot in the arm to the economy. To carry forward this positive story should be the focus now.
Meanwhile, as the new mutation of the coronavirus is on the loose in India (brought in by travellers from the UK) some sort of uncertainty has been added to the revival story. If people are not traced and isolated, if the new strain goes on to infect a huge number of people and is not stopped by the current vaccines, there will be problems. The Centre and the states, along with the medical fraternity are on their guard to nip it in the bud. Nine months of experience in fighting the virus will hopefully help in countering the spread of corona's new avatar.
But the ensuing assembly elections in West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu this year may cause a health scare as all political parties are desperate to lure voters to their political gatherings where managing social distancing and other health protocols are next to impossible. If the new coronavirus strain starts infecting people, election crowds will become new superspreaders. Hence, the Election Commission of India, along with the health ministry, must come out with strict guidelines for political gatherings on urgent basis. Since the country is showing signs of throwing off the lockdown-induced slide and is moving into positive territory, nothing should be allowed to play spoilsport.
