EC Extends Ban on Political Rallies, Roadshows Till 31 January

Relaxations on physical party meetings for Phase 1 will be allowed from 28 January.

The EC had banned all public rallies, roadshows, and corner meetings till 22 January in the five poll-bound states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab, and Manipur.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

The Election Commission (EC) of India extended the ban on political rallies, campaigns, and roadshows till 31 January.

Further, the election body said that relaxations on physical party meetings for Phase 1 and phase 2 will be put in to effect from 28 January and 1 February, respectively.

The 5 person limit for door-to-door campaign has also been enhanced to 10 persons.

The decision comes after the EC held a review meeting on the ongoing COVID-19 situation in 5 poll-bound states on Saturday, 22 January.

The meeting was attended by the Union health secretary, as well as the chief secretaries and health secretaries of the states.

The five poll-bound states – Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipur – are expected to submit the current status of vaccination and COVID-19 caseload during the virtual meeting, news agency IANS reported.

The meeting comes days after the Commission extended the ban on public rallies, party meetings, and roadshows in the five states by a week, from January 15 to January 22.

The EC had, however, allowed political parties to hold indoor meetings with up to 300 people or 50 per cent of the venue's capacity. The election body had said that the curbs on other political events will be revoked only if conditions improve.