Curbs at rallies, booths likely in first Covid polls

BIHAR IN FOCUS EC gets submissions from parties, to finalise guidelines in 3 days

NEWDELHI: Amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is finalising strict guidelines for upcoming elections that will include restrictions on public presence at campaign rallies and the number of people present in polling stations and vote-counting halls to ensure social distancing.

The Commission, which reviewed suggestions received from political parties on Friday for conducting elections to the 243-member Bihar assembly and subsequently held a meeting on Tuesday to discuss a wide-ranging organisational framework, is likely to issue the guidelines over the next three days.

Elections one parliamentary constituency and 56 assembly constituencies elsewhere are also scheduled to be held from September, officials familiar with the matter said. The polls have been delayed by the pandemic (please check).

“The guidelines will broadly centre around three primary subjects – polling stations, counting hall and public meetings,” said an ECI official who did not wish to be named. “For example, in the counting hall we used to have 14 tables, now we have slashed the number to seven.”

Since the pandemic began, the ECI has only held elections to some (how many) Rajya Sabha seats, and (how many seats in) the legislative councils of states, in which lawmakers make up the electoral college.

The by-polls to how many

seats are to be conducted across eight states -- Tamil Nadu, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Gujarat, Haryana and Nagaland. Assembly

elections in Bihar are also due later this year as the House’s term lapses in November.

“All CEOS {chief electoral officers of states} have sent in their suggestions on the conduct of elections; we should have more clarity in a day or so,” said a second ECI official, who also requested anonymity.

According to the first official, public meetings will also be strictly monitored. “If a ground has been designated for a public meeting, then the administration will have to ensure that only the number of people who can be admitted keeping social distancing in mind are permitted inside. Circles to mark the appropriate distance should be drawn.