Won't catch COVID-19 as poll booths non-AC: BJP to Goa voters

Ahead of the March 22 zilla panchayat polls, state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Sadanand Shet Tanavade said, here on Sunday, there was no fear of contracting coronavirus at polling booths in Goa because none had air-conditioning.

Stating that temperatures in Goa were soaring, Tanavade said people should not be scared of being infected by COVID-19 because of Goa's hot weather conditions.

"Elections will take place on schedule. Most (polling) booths have open ventilation and are not air-conditioned. People should not get scared. They should come out in large numbers to vote," Tanavade said.

The BJP leader's remark has come on the day when the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission postponed polls to rural and urban civic bodies due to the coronavirus pandemic, declared national disaster by the central government.

Tanavade also justified the BJP decision to continue with campaign meetings for zilla panchayat polls despite the pandemic. As no outsiders or foreigners attended such meetings, the risk of infection was negligible, he said.

Votes for zilla panchayats will be cast at 1,237 polling booths. Over 8.91 lakh voters will decide the fate of 203 candidates.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had said on Saturday all polling staff would be provided with hand sanitisers and masks to help them insulate from any coronavirus infection during the election process. Not a single positive case of coronavirus has been detected in the state yet. IANS