Assembly Elections 2021
Election Commission bans victory processions after poll results on May 2 over Covid-19 spike
New Delhi/IBNS: A day after getting slammed by the Madras High Court, India's poll body on Tuesday banned all victory processions after the declaration of election results in four states and one union territory on May 2 over Covid-19 spike.
"Not more than two persons shall be allowed to accompany the winning candidate or his/her authorised representative to receive the certificate of election from the Returning Officer concerned," the Election Commission of India (ECI) said as quoted by NDTV.
The assembly elections in three states- Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu- and union territory Puducherry have already been concluded.
West Bengal, the eastern state of the country, is due to vote in the last of eight phases on Apr 29.
The EC's ban came a day after the Madras High Court on Monday held ECI officers solely responsible for the Covid-19 second wave, which has crippled the country.
The court has also warned to stop the process of counting votes on May 2 if the EC fails to provide a blueprint of a plan which would be followed to ensure Covid protocols.
"Election Commission singularly responsible for Covid-19 second wave, officers should be booked for murder probably," the high court said, coming down heavily upon the poll body.
Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee, who was visibly angry, asked the EC counsel as quoted by Live Law, "Were you on another planet when the election rallies were held?"
"Public health is of paramount importance and it is distressing that constitutional authorities have to be reminded in such regard. It is only when a citizen survives that he'll be able to enjoy the rights that a democratic republic guarantees," the Chief Justice said and added, " The situation now is of survival and protection. Everything else comes next."
The Election Commission has earned massive criticisms over its handling of the elections amid Covid-19 situation.
The campaigns in all states went physical with little or no social distancing as various key Indian politicians including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and various Chief Ministers, addressed massive rallies of thousands of people.
After the Calcutta High Court rapped the poll body over Covid-19 protocols last week, the EC banned rallies of more than 500 people.
In a sign of relief amid the health emergency in the country, the campaign for the last phase of West Bengal elections concluded last evening.
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