EC warns leadeers, parties against flouting COVID rules 

New Delhi

Due to the rising cases of COVID-19, the Election Commission has warned political leaders against conducting their activities in breach of the restrictions imposed by the authorities to check the spread the second phase of the pandemic across India.

The commission has warned that it would take action against parties and the leaders who organise large public rallies in the ongoing Assembly elections throwing the mandatory social distancing and wearing of masks to the winds.

Leaders of all political parties have held massive rallies across the poll-bound four states, especially in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, in which hardly anyone wore even a facial mask. Lakhs of people who come to attend these rallies get exposed to the health risks. The polling has already been completed in Tamil Nadu, Assam and Kerala and in the Union Territory of Puducherry.

Kerala, where Coronavirus is spreading fast was the only state where no big rallies were held. The State also witnessed  all-time low polling, apparently due to the scare of the pandemic.

The election fever had made people wonder how irresponsible the leaders were in addressing large public gatherings in the times of Corona pandemic. Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah, who has tested positive for COVID-19 made a sarcastic remark on this on his Twitter handle:

It’s reassuring to know COVID has decided not to spread during the day, at political gatherings and at religious congregations/melas #COVIDcurfew

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) April 9, 2021

He comment is also against the night curfew.

Health activists have written to the Election Commission on blatant violation of COVID protocols during election campaigns across these states. Many leaders were seen moving around without wearing a facial mask.

The Commission has since reminded the leaders of the guidelines issued on August 21, 2020, in the wake of the first wave of a pandemic for election campaigning. Instructions were also given to political parties and the state officials to follow it.

The guidelines clearly state that leaders of political parties and candidates should use face masks, sanitisers, thermal scanning etc.

Those violating the guidelines will face action under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, Sections 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

Apart from this, the Election Commission had written a letter on 29 July 20 asking them to conduct according to the instructions. The Commission has directed political parties to strictly follow the Covid protocol.

West Bengal scene is worrisome since the polling and campaigning there is a prolonged affair. Today the state goes to the polls in the fourth phase of voting for the 44 legislative Assembly seats. The state has to undergo four more rounds of polling and electioneering; the next round takes place on 17 April.