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NATION JANUARY 21, 2022 | The Indian Eye 8

election in the times of omicron:

ec puts brakes on rallies

as parties go digital

A survey by LocalCircles says that 31% people were in favor of postponing the assembly elections,

while 41% wanted political rallies banned

Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra along with the Election Commissioners Rajiv Kumar and Anup Chandra Pandey addressing the Observers Briefing Meeting,
organised by the Election Commission of India on Saturday. (ANI Photo)

OUR BUREAU prepare to go to polls. Several parties had faced criti- other political gathering shall be per-
However, parties have been al- cism for holding massive rallies amid mitted in the entire state, till the SOP
Lucknow/New Delhi
lowed to hold indoor meetings with a the pandemic when several states is in operation.
he Election Commission has maximum of 300 people, or 50% ca- went to polls in April-May last year. The High Court of Karnataka
extended the ban on physi- pacity of the venue, whichever lower. A recent survey by digital communi- today heard PILs seeking directions
Tcal rallies and roadshows till The Commission has also direct- ty-based platform LocalCircles con- to the state government not to al-
January 22 in states where assembly ed parties to adhere to the model cluded that 31% people were in favor low rallies, dharnas and to restrain
elections are scheduled in Febru- code of conduct and Covid protocols of postponing the assembly elections, Mekedatu padayatra organized by
ary-March. during electioneering. while 41% wanted political rallies Karnataka Pradesh Congress Com-
The commission had on January The poll panel directed state and banned. mittee (KPCC). Chief Justice Ritu
8 banned rallies and roadshows till district administrations to ensure Meanwhile, the Karnataka High Raj Awasthi and Justice Suraj Gov-
January 15, when it announced polls compliance of all instructions related Court on Friday directed the state indaraj heard the matter. Senior
to the five states. to the poll code and to the pandemic government to execute the standard counsel Uday Holla appeared for
Extension of the ban comes control measures. There have been operating procedure (SOP) issued respondent KPCC. Learned counsel
amid a surge in Covid cases across several calls for a ban on rallies and on January 4 in all districts in view informed the bench that the padaya-
the country, as Uttar Pradesh, Pun- meeting as India witnesses another of the COVID-19-19 pandemic and tra has been suspended, respecting
jab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur wave of Covid infections. added that no rallies, dharnas or any Continued at next page... >>

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