After Four Assembly Polls Phases Are Over, EC Asks Political Parties To Follow COVID Protocols

For nearly two months now four states and one union territory had been in the grip of an intense election campaign for the assembly polls there.

While Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry voted in a single phase, Assam went to the polls in three phases.

Reuters

West Bengal, which is the only state which is to complete the voting process is voting in the 4th phase on Saturday, with four more rounds to go after this.

Polls amid deadly second COVID wave

The elections are happening at a time when the country is going through a deadly second wave of COVID-19.

But if you take look at the election campaigns you will be left confused.

AFP

Because for the most part of it, COVID-19 safety protocols have been thrown out of the window by almost all political parties and candidates.

There are huge crowds at every poll rallies and hardly anyone is following social distancing or wearing face masks, providing an ideal scenario for the virus to spread rapidly.

Now, after the election campaign in three states and on UT are over, the Election Commission has woken up to the COVID-19 protocol violations.

BCCL

Finally EC takes notice

Election Commission has flagged instances of star campaigners and political leaders campaigning without masks, and warned it will not hesitate to ban rallies if COVID guidelines issued by it last year are breached.

In a letter to leaders of all recognised political parties on Friday, the poll panel said, "It is widely known that in the recent weeks, COVID cases are being reported in larger numbers. However, instances of election meetings/campaigns have come to the notice of the commission, where norms of social distancing, wearing of masks have been flouted in disregard to the commission's guidelines."

BCCL

The letter pointed out instances of star campaigners and political leaders or candidates not observing COVID-19 protocols, "including non-wearing of masks themselves at stage or while campaigning".

"By doing so, the political parties and candidates are exposing themselves as well as the public attending such election meetings to the grave danger of the infection," the letter said.

BCCL

In cases of breach, the Election Commission (EC) said it will "not hesitate in banning public meetings, rallies of defaulting candidates, star campaigners or political leaders without any further reference".

No masks in election rallies

On Thursday, the Delhi High Court had sought responses from the commission and the central government on the use of masks during poll campaigns.

The poll panel said it has taken "serious view of the laxity" in following norms, particularly not wearing masks and not maintaining social distancing by political leaders on the dais or stage.

It asked parties to follow its guidelines with all seriousness.

West Bengal is set to choose BJP!

Some pictures from the roadshow in Jagatdal. #BJP200PlusInBengal pic.twitter.com/9Vju86qNGP

¡ª Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 9, 2021

The two-page letter said it is advisable that political leaders and candidates, who have the incumbent duty to control the spread of COVID-19, lead by example.

They must push all their supporters in the beginning of a rally, meeting or a campaign to wear masks and use sanitisers, and put in place crowd-control measures as per social distancing norms, according to the letter.

"Political parties, leaders, campaigners, candidates, existing or aspiring policy makers are expected to be torch-bearers for the campaign against COVID and hence, are expected to not only set an example by maintaining social distancing, wearing masks and following prescribed protocols but also by exhorting all the local formations who attend programmes to follow COVID protocols," the letter read.