EC extends ban on rallies, roadshows till Jan 31

Story by  ATV | Posted by  sabir hussain • 2 Years ago
Representational image
Representational image

 

New Delhi

Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, the Election Commission of India on Saturday extended the ban on physical rallies and roadshows in the election-bound states of Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Goa till January 31, it said in a press statement.

But the EC has enhanced the limit of persons for door-to-door campaign from 5 to 10 people. The commission has also permitted video vans for publicity at designated open spaces with COVID-19 restrictions.

The decision came after the EC held a meeting earlier in the day with the Union Health Secretary and the Chief Health Secretaries of the five poll-bound states to review the ban on holding physical roadshows and rallies by political parties ahead of Assembly elections.

Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra along with Election Commissioners Rajiv Kumar, Anup Chandra Pandey, Secretary General, and concerned Deputy Election Commissioners also reviewed the present situation with respect to status and projected trends of COVID-19 pandemic in the five poll going states, the statement said.

The EC also deliberated on requirements of the campaign period in phases where candidate list will be finalised on January 27, 2022 for Phase I and on January 31, 2022 for Phase 2. Besides extending ban on physical rallies and roadshows till January 31, the EC also decided the following:

- Since contesting candidates for Phase 1 elections will be finalised on January 27, 2022, Commission has decided to allow physical public meetings of political parties or contesting candidates in designated open spaces with a maximum of 500 people or 50 per cent of the capacity of the ground or the prescribed limit set by SDMA, whichever number is lesser, from January 28, 2022 till February 8, 2022 (excluding the silence period).

- Since contesting candidates for Phase 2 elections will be finalised on January 31 2022, Commission has decided to allow physical public meetings of Political parties or contesting candidates in designated open spaces with a maximum of 500 people or 50 per cent of the capacity of the ground or the prescribed limit set by SDMA, whichever number is lesser, from February 1, 2022 till February 12, 2022 (excluding the silence period).

- Commission has already granted relaxation for the political parties to the extent that indoor meetings of a maximum of 300 people or 50 per cent of the capacity of the hall or the prescribed limit set by SDMA is allowed.

- Political parties and contesting candidates shall ensure the compliance of COVID appropriate behaviour and guidelines and Model Code of Conduct at all occasions during the activities connected with elections.

- It shall be the responsibility of the DEO concerned to identify and to notify the designated spaces in advance for the aforesaid purposes.

- All remaining restrictions as contained in the Revised Broad Guidelines for Conduct of Elections, 2022 issued on 8 January 2022 shall continue to operate, the statement said.

As of Saturday, India reported 3,37,704 fresh COVID cases (9,550 more than yesterday) and 2,42,676 recoveries and 488 deaths in the last 24 hours. There are a total of 21,13,365 active cases are in the country with a daily positivity rate of 17.22 per cent.