New Delhi | The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday extended the ban on rallies and roadshows with physical presence till January 22. The Election Commission, however, has given relaxation to political parties that meetings can be held at closed places with maximum participation of 300 persons or 50 percent of the hall capacity or subject to the limit prescribed by the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA).
The Election Commission held separate virtual meetings with the Union Health Secretary, Chief Secretaries and Health Secretaries of Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh as well as Chief Electoral Officers of these five electoral states and thereafter declare.
The Commission has decided that no roadshow, pad-yatra, cycle, bike or vehicle rally, procession, a physical rally of any political party or candidates (including prospective) or any other group related to election shall be permitted till January 22. Will go The commission will review the situation later and issue further instructions after that date.
Earlier, after the announcement of the election schedule, the Election Commission had banned these activities till January 15.
Political parties have been asked to ensure proper conduct and compliance with guidelines and the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) during election-related activities. All remaining restrictions contained in the Revised Comprehensive Guidelines for Conduct of Elections, 2022, issued on January 8, 2022, shall remain in force, the ECI said.
All concerned State and District authorities shall ensure full compliance with these directions.
During the meeting, Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra along with Election Commissioners Rajeev Kumar and Anoop Chandra Pandey along with Secretary-General and respective Deputy Election Commissioners conducted a comprehensive review of the current situation and projected trends of the COVID pandemic with special focus in the five election states. . Immunization status and action plan for faster completion of vaccination for first, second and booster doses for eligible persons among frontline workers and polling personnel were also reviewed.
The commission also discussed the SDMA’s restrictions and state-specific existing guidelines regulating the norms for the gathering persons during the pandemic period.
