Representational image  |  Photo Credit: PTI
New Delhi: The Election Commission of India on Saturday extended the ban on physical rallies and roadshows till January 31.
The poll panel earlier today held several virtual meetings to decide whether the ban imposed by it on physical rallies and roadshows to prevent the spread of coronavirus should continue.
Five states – Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand – are set to go to polls across seven phases from February 10 till March 7.
Announcing dates for elections in these fives states on January 8, the poll panel had announced a ban on physical rallies, road and bike shows, and similar campaigning events till January 15. The commission later extended the ban until January 22.
It had, however, granted a relaxation for political parties to hold indoor meetings of maximum 300 people or 50 per cent of the capacity of the hall.
“ECI extends ban on physical rallies and roadshows until 22 January, 2022. ECI grants relaxation for the political parties to the extent that indoor meetings of maximum of 300 persons or 50 per cent of the capacity of the hall or the prescribed limit set by SDMA (State Disaster Management Authority),” the EC had said on its Twitter handle.
Uttar Pradesh will hold elections in seven phases – February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27 and March 3 and 7 while Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa will hold election in single phase from February 14. Elections in Manipur will be held in two phases – February 27 and March 3.
Results for all the states will be declared on March 10.
The EC has advised political parties and candidates to conduct their campaign as much as possible through “digital/virtual/ media platforms /mobile based mode” instead of physical mode ensuring strict compliance of COVID safety norms.