The Election Commission has extended the ban on rallies till January 31. This decision has been taken in view of Corona. However, with this some relief has also been given. At the same time, the limit of 5 persons has been increased to 10 for door-to-door campaigns.
New Delhi: In five states including Uttar Pradesh, the Election Commission has extended the ban on rallies and road shows till January 31. However, giving relief, the candidates of Phase I and II have been allowed to hold gatherings up to the limit of 500 people. Along with this, the commission has also directed the states to strictly follow the Kovid and Model Code of Conduct. Earlier, the commission had given relaxation to political parties for indoor meetings up to a maximum of 300 people or 50 per cent of the hall’s capacity. Earlier, the commission had banned large rallies and road shows till January 22.
Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra held a virtual meeting on Saturday with Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Chief Secretaries and Health Secretaries of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa, Manipur. The Chief Electoral Officers of all the five states also participated in it.
The ECI has extended the ban on physical rallies and road shows till January 31, 2022. Exemption has been given from January 28, 2022 for physical meetings of political parties or contesting candidates for the first phase and from February 1, 2022 for the second phase
What are the new instructions of the Election Commission?
No road shows, pad yatras, cycle/bike/vehicle rallies and processions will be allowed in the five election states till January 31, 2022.
In the first phase i.e. on February 10, in the polling areas, candidates will be allowed to hold a rally of maximum 500 people in open space from January 28. If the capacity of the ground is less than one thousand people, then people will be allowed only in half of its capacity. Which candidates will be canceled in the first phase, whose acceptance is to be decided on January 27.
In Phase-II, candidates from voting areas will be allowed to hold a rally in open space with a maximum crowd of 500 people from February 1. If the capacity of the ground is less than one thousand people, then people will be allowed only in half of its capacity. Which candidates will be canceled in Phase 2, whose acceptance is to be decided on January 31.
The commission has also increased the limit for conducting door-to-door campaigns. Now instead of 5 persons, 10 persons except security personnel have been allowed to conduct door-to-door campaign. Other instructions to run door-to-door campaigns will continue.
The commission had already given some relaxation for political parties. Under this, an indoor meeting of a maximum of 300 persons or 50% of the capacity of the hall or the limit prescribed by the SDMA is allowed.