The Election Commision, today, decided to extend the ban imposed by it on physical rallies and roadshows, till January 31.
Announcing dates for elections in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab and Manipur on January 8, the poll panel had announced a ban on physical rallies, road and bike shows, and similar campaigning events till January 15, which was then extended to January 22.
The poll panel made the decision after a series of virtual meetings with the Union health ministry, experts, the five poll-bound states and respective state chief electoral officers.
The limit of five persons for door-to-door campaign has been enhanced to 10 persons, and video vans for publicity are permitted at designated open spaces with Covid-19 restrictions, the EC said in the statement. It cautioned that the video van events should not cause inconvenience to the people and should not be a hindrance to smooth flow of traffic. It will be the responsibility of the district election officer concerned to identify and to notify the designated spaces in advance for the events.
For the phase 1 polling on February 10, political parties and contesting candidates can hold "physical public meetings" with a cap of 500 people from January 28. For the phase 2 polling on February 14, such meetings can be held from February 1.
After considering the present situation, facts and circumstances, as also the inputs received in a series of virtual meets on Saturday, the Commission said it has decided that no roadshows, padayatras, cycle, bike or vehicle rallies and procession will be allowed till January 31.
Since contesting candidates for Phase 1 elections will be finalised on January 27, the Commission has decided to allow "physical public meetings" of the political parties concerned and 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 state disaster management authorities (SDMA), whichever number is lesser, from January 28 till February 8", excluding the 48-hour silence period.
Similarly, since contesting candidates for Phase 2 elections will be finalised on January 31, the Commission decided to allow physical meetings of the political parties concerned and contesting candidates from February 1 till February 12 (excluding the silence period).
The EC has already granted relaxation for the political parties to the extent that indoor meetings of a maximum of 300 persons or 50 per cent of the capacity of the hall or the prescribed limit set by SDMA is allowed.
Uttar Pradesh will have the first two phases of polling on February 10 and 14.
Uttarakhand and Goa will have single phase polls on February 14.
The poll panel held a comprehensive review of the present situation with respect to status and projected trends of the Covid pandemic in the five poll-going states.
The Commission also reviewed vaccination status and action plan for expeditiously completing vaccination for first, second and booster doses for eligible persons amongst polling personnel.
The poll panel will now review the situation on January 31.
