CEC stuck in U.S. due to travel curbs

22/04/2020, DAMINI NATH ,NEW DELHI

Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora, who went on a personal visit to the United States and was scheduled to return to Delhi on April 4, has been stuck in the country since March 23 when all international flights were stopped.

He said that he was on leave from March 7 and his return was on April 4. Now, like many others, he is waiting for the resumption of flights. Election Commission officials said Mr. Arora had been working remotely. The two Election Commissioners – Ashok Lavasa and Sushil Chandra – and other senior officials were in touch with him.

Mr. Arora said the ECI headquarters in Delhi, including his own office, was operational with a skeleton staff. The decision of the CEC and ECs on a 30% cut in salary for one year to contribute to the COVID-19 response of the government was taken after conversations among the three, he said.