In the wake of the rising COVID19 cases in the country, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has banned all victory processions on or after the declaration of poll results on May 2.
Today, ECI has issued an order to the chief electoral officers of all states and union territories.
“No victory procession after the counting on May 2 shall be permissible, not more than two persons shall be allowed to accompany the winning candidate or his/her authorised representative receive the certificate of election from the Returning Officer concerned,” read the order.
The Election Commission has also fixed counting of votes for general elections to legislative assemblies of West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry along with Bye-Elections in various states on May 2.
Also Read: West Bengal Assembly Elections 2021: Weavers wrapped up in gloom
The Commission had issued broad guidelines on August 21 last year to conduct elections during COVID-19 after receiving further suggestions from national and state political parties. “The Commission has considered suggestions received from various chief electoral officers of states/UTs on election campaign and public meetings,” read the letter signed by Sumit Mukherjee, senior principal secretary to the ECI.
Earlier, the election commission faced criticism for its decision to allow political parties to flout COVID19 protocol through huge rallies, where most of the political leaders were unmasked.
Also Read: West Bengal Elections: ‘Politicians are busy sowing and reaping their harvest of politics’
Yesterday, the Madras High Court observed that the ECI was responsible for the second wave in India and its officials should probably be tried on murder charges for allowing political parties to hold massive rallies without following COVID19 protocols.
Meanwhile, the four-phase panchayat elections are going on in Uttar Pradesh. The four-phased panchayat elections in the state commenced on April 15 and the counting of votes and declaration of results will take place on May 2.
Amid criticism on holding elections while corona cases are rising sharply, the Uttar Pradesh government clarified that the “Allahabad High Court’s order compelled the state government to conduct the elections”. In its press statement, the state government stated that it did not want to hold these polls.
Also Read: Assam Election 2021: The story of Assam’s tea workers and broken election promises
