NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Saturday once again extended the ban on holding road shows and election rallies till January 31 ahead of the upcoming assembly polls in five states.
Earlier, the ban was imposed by the EC due to soaring COVID-19 cases in the country.
However, the election body has allowed holding of public meeting for first and second phases with a limit of 500 persons. The poll panel has also increased the number of persons for door to door campaign from five to 10.
The decision was taken after the Election Commission held a detailed meeting with the Secretary of Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The poll panel also held virtual meetings with Chief Secretaries, Chief Electoral Officers and Health Secretaries of Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.
The meeting was attended by Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra, along with Election Commissioners Rajiv Kumar, Anup Chandra Pandey, Secretary General and concerned Deputy Election Commissioners. The panel took a comprehensive review of the present situation and projected trends of the pandemic in the five poll-going states.
“No road show, pad-yatra, cycle, bike or vehicle rally and procession shall be allowed till January 31, 2022,” the panel said after the review meeting.
Keeping in mind the fact that contesting candidates for Phase 1 elections will be finalised on January 27, 2022, the Commission has decided to allow physical public meetings of political parties or contesting candidates in designated open spaces with a maximum of 500 persons 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.
Similarly, since contesting candidates for Phase 2 elections will be finalised on January 31 2022, the poll panel has allowed physical public meetings of political parties or contesting candidates in designated open spaces with a maximum of 500 persons or 50 per cent from to 12, 2022, excluding the silence period.
Giving more relaxation for campaigning, the poll panel allowed video vans for publicity with usual COVID-19 restrictions at designated open spaces with a maximum of 500 viewers or 50 per cent of the capacity or the limit prescribed by SDMA to public convenience and no hindrance to smooth flow of traffic.
The assembly polls in the five states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa will be held between February 10 and March 7. The elections in these five states will be completed in 7 phases.
Counting of votes will take place on March 10.