New Delhi: The Election commission in fresh take has extended the ban on physical political rallies and roadshows for the upcoming assembly elections till 11 February. However, it has renewed the number of attendants permitted at meetings and election campaigning.
As per the revised norms, 1,000 people would be allowed in physical public meetings of political parties or contesting candidates in designated open spaces. Revising the number of people for door to door campaigning the poll body now permitted 20 people excluding security personnel.
The revision comes after the EC convened with health and electoral officials from the five poll-bound states to review the present situation of Covid 19 infection and projected trends. “All the State Chief secretaries informed the Commission about reports of Covid 19 infection either plateauing out or tapering as on date. They also said that the positivity rate is showing a decline with the number of hospitalisation cases also registering a declining trend,” a release from the EC said, adding that state officers suggested continuing Covid precautions.