New Delhi: Asserting the ban on physical rallies and roadshows will continue to remain in effect in the poll-bound states, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday granted further relaxations for physical public meetings in indoor halls and outdoor meetings.
The Election Commission said the ban on road shows, pad-yatras, cycle/bike/vehicle rallies and processions will remain as before.
The poll body said the maximum number of persons permissible for door to door campaigning fixed at 20 will also remain as before, adding the ban on campaign between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. will also continue as before.
“Ban on road shows, Pad-Yatras, cycle/bike/vehicle rallies and processions to continue; ECI grants further relaxation for Physical public meetings in indoor Halls and Outdoor meetings,” tweeted ECI official spokesperson Sheyphali Sharan.
The Election Commission said the restrictions regarding outdoor meeting/indoor meetings/rallies will be further relaxed subject to condition that the number of persons attending the indoor/outdoor meetings/rallies will be limited to maximum of 50 percent of the capacity of Indoor halls and 30 percent of the open ground capacity or as fixed by the District Election Officer (DEO).
The poll body said that in case the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) has set the ceiling limits or percentage of the capacity for number of persons attending indoor hall or open ground and they are stricter then the guidelines will prevail.
“Open ground rallies can be held only in the grounds specifically designated by the district authorities and subject to compliance of all the conditions of SDMA,” the Election Commission said.
“Allocation of these grounds will be given equitably by District Administration through e-Suvidha portal on first come first serve basis. Capacities of these grounds will be fixed by the District Administration well in advance and notify to all the parties,” the poll body added.
The Election Commission said the decision to ease the restrictions was taken after taking into consideration all the inputs, facts and circumstances and ground reports from the special election observers, state chief secretaries and a meeting with the Union Health Secretary in the wake of declining cases of Covid-19.