Covid status in poll-bound states is assessed by the Election Commission.

The Election Commission met with the Union health secretary on Monday to review the COVID-19 situation in the five poll-bound states and instructed the Narcotics Control Bureau's top brass to check the role of drugs in elections. 

The commission also met with key officials from the ITBP, BSF, and SSB, urging them to keep a close eye on international borders that several of the polling states share. 

According to sources familiar with the sessions, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan informed the poll panel on the Covid situation in the country for about an hour, focusing on vote-bound Uttarakhand, Manipur, Goa, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh.

The issue of the Omicron coronavirus variant's spread was also explored. 

"It was a gathering of information session. The situation was reviewed by the panel based on statistics provided by the Ministry of Health "According to a functionary. 

The EC was also updated by the health secretary on the Covid protocols and Home Ministry instructions established recently to combat the virus's spread. 

The poll panel ordered the Narcotics Control Bureau to guarantee that narcotics do not influence polls during their meetings with top officials from the NCB, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), and the Border Security Force (BSF).

According to the sources, the commission specifically mentioned Punjab and Goa in relation to drug smuggling. 

The legislative assemblies of Goa, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Manipur will all conclude in March of next year, with the Uttar Pradesh Assembly's mandate concluding in May. 

Next month, the Election Commission is anticipated to declare election dates. 

The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners will visit Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday to assess the state's election readiness. 

On Thursday, an Allahabad High Court bench led by Justice Shekhar Yadav advised the government and the poll commission to consider delaying the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections for a month or two and prohibiting any political gatherings, citing security concerns.Covid's third wave is on its way. 

CEC Sushil Chandra had said in Dehradun on Friday that the EC will be visiting Uttar Pradesh soon and that "an appropriate decision as required by the scenario will be taken once we review it," when questioned about the observation. 

As part of its pre-poll inventory, the commission has previously visited Punjab, Goa, and Uttarakhand.