Ban on rallies to continue, says EC; more relaxations for physical meetings

“Ban on road shows, Pad-Yatras, cycle/bike/vehicle rallies and processions will remain as before. Maximum number of persons permissible for door-to-door campaigning fixed at 20 will also remain as before. Ban on campaign between 8 PM and 8 AM will also continue as before,” added.

On January 31, the EC had further extended the ban on physical rallies and roadshows till February 11.

The commission also held a meeting with the Health Ministry on Saturday to assess the prevailing Covid situation.

The EC said that according to the Union Health Secretary, Covid cases are fast receding in the country and the maximum number of cases are reported from states that are not poll-bound.

“Poll-going states are contributing a very small proportion of the total reported cases in the country. Union Health Secretary briefed the Commission that the peak of Covid had been reached on 21st/ 22nd January after that all-India figures of the Covid cases are fast receding from around 2.93 lakh to 1.72 lakh,” the commission said.

“Specially in the Poll going states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa total number of cases which were more than 32,000 at peak on 22nd January, 2022 have reduced to around 7,000 on 5th February,” it added.

The EC said the vaccination coverage even among those aged 17 and 18 in the poll-going states was “very satisfactory”.

“Chief Secretaries of poll going States have written to the Commission and have apprised that there has been significant improvement in the prevailing Covid situation, a considerable decrease in the number of positive cases of Covid and also decrease in cases of hospitalization. Most of them have recommended to the Commission to consider for relaxation and allow increased number of persons in the indoor/outdoor campaign meetings,” the EC said.

The commission had also appointed 15 former bureaucrats as special observers for the poll-bound states.

“Many Special Observers have sent their reports and have stated that the Covid situation has improved substantially and positivity rate has come down significantly,” the EC said.

“They have also stated that coverage of vaccination in the state is very satisfactory for the 1st Dose, 2nd Dose and Precaution Dose to frontline workers and Poll duty officials. In this light, they have recommended that the Commission may consider revisiting the existing campaign guidelines and permit further relaxation in the Campaign norm to ensure greater participation in the ongoing election process. Most of them recommended to increase limit of the number of people attending the rallies in open/indoor space to about 50% and not limiting it to a number,” it added.