New Delhi: In view of the daily increase in Covid cases in the five poll-bound states, the Election Commission of India has extended a ban on political rallies and roadshows till February 11.
The poll body also announced some relaxation and permitted the physical rallies with a maximum capacity of 1000 people; indoor meetings to have a maximum capacity of 500 people. Twenty people allowed for the door-to-door campaign.
The decision comes after the election commission discussed the Covid situation with the health secretaries of the state and noted the positivity rate.
When the election panel released the vote schedule for Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab, and Manipur on January 8, it put a ban on physical rallies and roadshows, citing an increase in COVID-19 cases.
It is to be noted that the Assembly elections will be held in seven phases beginning on February 10 in Goa, Punjab, Manipur, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh. The ballots will be counted on March 10th
It had maintained the prohibition on physical rallies and roadshows in the five states until January 31 but had permitted public gatherings with a maximum of 500 people in the seats going to polls in the first two stages and loosened door-to-door campaign limits during its previous meeting on January 22.
The Commission has been assessing the issue on a regular basis and has granted relaxations to guarantee that the virus does not spread and that parties are able to conduct physical campaigning in a limited format.
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