Election Commission bans victory processions during and after counting of votes on May 2

In the wake of surging COVID-19 infections across the country, the Election Commission of India has banned all victory processions during and after the counting of votes on May 2. This comes after the Madra High Court came down heavily on the poll watchdog for “not stopping political parties” from violating COVID protocols during their campaign rallies last month.

“Not more than two persons shall be allowed to accompany the winning candidate or his/her authorized representative receive the certificate of election from the Returning Officer concerned,” an EC notification said.

The Election Commission had laid down protocol for the contesting parties and leaders, amid a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, to follow to minimize the spread of infections. The rules were, however, mostly observed only in the breach by most political outfits and their contestants, with huge rallies and marches sending social distancing for a toss.

The scathing observations came four days after the Calcutta High Court had censured the EC for not doing enough to ensure that political parties were following appropriate COVID protocols amid the surging second wave. “Issuance of circulars and holding of meetings by themselves do not discharge the onerous responsibility of the ECI and officers under its command,” the court had said last week. On April 13, the court had directed the state’s electoral officer and district magistrates to ‘strictly’ implement the COVID-19 guidelines during political campaigns. But the HC was unhappy with the steps taken to enforce the norms.

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Yesterday, the Madras High Court criticized the ECI saying that it has been singularly lacking any kind of exercise of authority. “You have not taken measures against political parties holding rallies despite every order of this court saying “maintain COVID protocol, maintain COVID protocol”,” it said. The bench also ordered the EC to prepare a blueprint before May 2 on how COVID protocols will be maintained so that “this state does not succumb to your idiosyncrasies any further”.