ECI extends ban on rallies till Feb 11, gives relaxations on public meetings & door to door campaigning
Precautions to be continued to be observed to avoid spurt in infections
Babushahi Bureau
New Delhi, January 31, 2022: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday extended the ban on roadshows, pad-yatras, cycle/bike/vehicle rallies & processions till February 11.
Commission has now decided to allow physical public meetings of Political parties or contesting candidates in designated open spaces with a maximum of 1000 persons (instead of existing 500 persons) or 50% of the capacity of the ground or the prescribed limit set by SDMA, whichever number is lesser, from February 1, 2022, for all phases.
The Commission has also enhanced the limit for door-to-door campaigns. Instead of 10 persons, now 20 persons, excluding security personnel, will be allowed for door-to-door campaigns. Other instructions on the door-to-door campaigns will continue.
Chief Election Commissioner Shri Sushil Chandra along with Election Commissioners Shri Rajiv Kumar and Shri Anup Chandra Pandey today held another comprehensive review of the present situation of Covid 19 infection particularly in the states of Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh.
The Commission accompanied by Secretary-General and concerned Deputy Election Commissioners, met with the Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and the Chief Secretaries, the Chief Electoral Officers of the five Poll Going States through virtual mode to assess the present status and projected trends of COVID pandemic.
Commissioner Sushil Chandra also emphasized that while deliberating on relaxation of restrictions for physical rallies, indoor/outdoor meetings, door to door campaigning, the practicality of implementation of orders by field level functionaries should be ensured in the wake of the prevailing situation.
After taking into consideration inputs, facts and circumstances and ground reports from State officers and Secretary Health, GOI as also the requirements of necessary political activity in election mode by political parties in present situation, the Commission has decided as follows:
No road shows, Pad-yatras, cycle/bike/vehicle rallies and processions shall be allowed till February 11, 2022.
The Commission has now granted relaxation for the political parties to the extent that indoor meetings of a maximum of 500 persons (instead of existing 300 persons) or 50% 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 & 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.