The Election Commission on Wednesday reiterated its tips for campaigning in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic after discovering that political parties and candidates had been lax in sustaining crowd self-discipline in the course of the ongoing polls.
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With campaigning for the Bihar Assembly elections and bypolls throughout States below manner, the EC wrote to all recognised nationwide and State parties to reiterate it’s earlier advisory to parties relating to social distancing, masks carrying and different COVID-safe measures.
On October 9, the EC had written: “As representatives of public, this onerous responsibility rests with the political parties to ensure that they not only cooperate with the district machineries in following the due norms of public health safety as prescribed, but also instil a sense of discipline for civic behaviour in their cadre while doing ground management during campaign times. It is requested that you may like to issue advisory to all your field representatives to demonstrate utmost vigil and care to abide by all the extant instructions in large interest of public health and avoid any penal action for breaching the provisions.”
The EC had additionally issued broad tips on August 21 that mentioned authorized motion could be taken towards those that fail to adjust to the rules.
“Instances of such public meetings have come to notice of the Commission, where large number of crowds have assembled in utter violation of social distancing and the political leaders/campaigners are addressing the gathering without wearing masks in complete disregard of the guidelines/instructions. By doing so, the political parties and candidates are not only flouting the guidelines of the Commission with impunity, but exposing themselves as well as the public attending the rallies/meetings to the danger of infection during the pandemic,” the EC mentioned.
The EC mentioned it had “taken a serious view of the laxity on the part of political parties and candidates, on the ground, in terms of maintaining crowd discipline” and reiterated the necessity for parties to watch out throughout campaigning.
It mentioned the Chief Electoral Officers and district officers could be anticipated to invoke the related penal provisions towards the candidates involved and organisers of occasions for violations.