Amid covid surge, EC prohibits roadshows, pad-yatras, vehicle rallies in West Bengal
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New Delhi, April 23: Taking action to tackle the covid situation amid the West Bengal election, Election Commission on Thursday invoked article 324 and prohibited any roadshow, pad-yatra, cycle, bike, vehicle rally in West Bengal.
EC has issued the order statement yesterday night. In its order, EC has further also withdrawn the permission for the roadshow, cycle/bike/vehicle rally that were earlier granted by EC. "Permission for the roadshow, cycle/bike/vehicle rally if granted already, stands withdrawn. Permission for a public meeting if granted already stands modified," panel added.
The civic poll body further ordered that public meetings beyond the limit of 500 persons will not be allowed in the state. Such public meetings will be allowed as per the availability of adequate space with social distancing norms and adherence to Covid-19 guidelines.
"No public meeting beyond the limit of 500 persons at a place subject to availability with adequate space with social distancing, adhering to COVID-19 safety norms shall be permissible," the poll panel said.
The Commission issued the order after taking strong cognisance of the non-adherence of COVID protocols during campaigning by several political parties. In its order, the commission has also noted that many political parties and candidates are still not adhering to the prescribed safety norms during public gatherings.
"The Commission has noted with anguish that many political parties/candidates are still not adhering to the prescribed safety norms during the public gatherings and, this is making it difficult for the state/district election machineries to enforce the directions fully," the poll panel said in its order.
West Bengal on Thursday registered its highest single-day spike of 11,948 new Covid-19 cases, the health department said in a bulletin. It should be noted, that voting for the first six phases of the eight-phased West Bengal assembly elections has been completed however, the polling for the seventh and eighth phases will be held on April 26 and 29.
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