West Bengal Polls 2021: All-Party Meet With EC To Ensure Covid Protocols Are 'Strictly Implemented'

The meeting was called on Wednesday as the Calcutta High Court's orders came in on Tuesday after hearing two PILs in this regard.

Kolkata: On Friday, the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal Aariz Aftab will meet representatives of all the parties to ensure that Covid protocols are strictly adhered during the remaining polls and campaigning. 

The meeting was called on Wednesday as the Calcutta High Court's orders came in on Tuesday after hearing two PILs in this regard. The PILs expressed concern that the people participating in the ongoing election campaigns are not adhering to the COVID guidelines and that this may cause a serious spike in coronavirus cases in the state.

All political parties in the state have been asked to send only one representative each for the meeting which will discuss matters related to the campaigning for the last four phases of the poll, an EC official told PTI adding that State Additional Director General of police (Law and Order) Jag Mohan and state health secretary N S Nigam will also be present in the meeting.

The Calcutta HC directed that all health-related guidelines should be maintained in the strictest possible manner during campaigning by political parties in view of the resurgence in COVID-19 cases. The court further said that it is in the public interest that the administration should ensure that all the COVID-19 guidelines are strictly adhered to by all concerned, including those engaged in election campaign activities.

According to a HT report, the court order said “If the administration finds a person, whether engaged in election campaigning or otherwise, flouting Covid-19 protocols, such a person must be taken to task immediately”. The court has directed the CEO and district magistrates strict implementation of the guidelines with the helps of the police force and also called for stringent action against those who fail to adhere to the protocols. The court said that the administration may, resort to provisions of Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) to ensure social distancing. 

So far, CPI-M is the only party that has decided to forgo mass rallies and public gatherings. Instead the party will focus on door to door campaigning, social media campaigns and small group meets. 

According to PTI, CPI-M Politburo member Md Salim told reporters, "We had seen the high turnouts in our meetings in all the phases of polling so far. With the sharp rise in Covid-19 we have decided not to hold any big rally to prevent any contamination. We will undertake door to doors and small group meetings with all Covid-19 measures in place".