FOLLOWING A decrease in turnout in the first phase of polling last week, the Election Commission (EC) on Monday set up a task force to review the impact of the heat wave five days before polling for the remaining six phases of the Lok Sabha elections. The task force comprises officials of the poll panel, the India Meteorological Department (IMD), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry, the EC said in a statement. The decision was taken at a meeting that the EC held on Monday with officials of the IMD, NDMA and health ministry to discuss ways to mitigate the risks of heat wave conditions during the remaining six phases. The EC was informed that the weather forecast for the 13 states going to polls in the second phase on Friday was normal. “There is no major concern with regard to heat wave for Phase 2,” the poll panel was told. The EC told health ministry officials to issue instructions to state health authorities to be prepared in case of a heat wave. It will also hold a meeting with state chief electoral officers to ensure that polling stations have adequate arrangements, including tents, drinking water, fans etc. “The Commission has been closely monitoring the weather reports and will ensure the comfort and well-being of voters, along with polling personnel and security forces, candidates and political party leaders,” the EC said. The turnout in the 102 Lok Sabha seats that went to polls in the first phase on April 19 decreased by around 4 percentage points as compared to the turnout in the same seats in 2019. While the EC is yet to release the final figures, the turnout was estimated to be around 66%, down from 70% in 2019. According to EC sources, Monday’s meeting was scheduled before the first phase turnout was known. The heat wave conditions are expected to be a factor from the fourth phase of polling, which is on May 13, sources said.
