After allowing “super spreader” rallies and roadshows during the Assembly polls, the Election Commission on Tuesday banned victory processions after the declaration of Assam, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, West Bengal and Kerala election results on May 2 to check the spread of coronavirus.
The decision came a day after the poll paned faced flak from the Madras High Court over the violations of Covid-19 protocol during campaigning for the five Assembly elections. The High Court on Monday blamed the commission for the second wave of the pandemic.
“In view of the surge in Covid-19 cases throughout the country, the commission has decided to make more stringent provision to be followed during the process of counting, in addition to exiting broad guidelines dated 21st August, 2020, “ the EC said in a letter to the Chief Electoral Officers of all States.
It said no victory processions would be allowed after the counting of votes and only a maximum of two people would be allowed to accompany the winning candidate or their authorised representative to receive the certificate of election from the returning officer. BJP president JP Nadda welcomed the Election Commission’s order.
“I welcome the decision of the ECI banning celebrations and processions of electoral victories. I have directed all State units of BJP to strictly adhere to this decision. All karykartas of BJP are using their energies to help the ones in need in this hour of crisis,” Nadda said in a tweet.
In a letter signed by Sumit Mukherjee, the senior public relations secretary to the Election Commission of India, the EC said that it had issued broad guidelines on August 21 last year to conduct elections during Covid-19, after receiving suggestions from national and State-based political parties. The guidelines for political parties conducting election campaigns and public meetings had also been reviewed based on suggestions received from various chief electoral officers of states and union territories, the letter read. The Covid-19 related provisions for counting of votes on May 2 are to be in accordance with the broad guidelines dated August 21, 2020.
