By Online Desk
The current Covid situation in India is not feasible for large rallies and roadshows and such events should not be held, NITI Aayog member and India’s Covid Task Force chief VK Paul has told the Election Commission on Thursday.
However, the Commission is of the view that political parties should stop such large-scale rallies and roadshows on their own. This indicates that the EC is unlikely to any initiative of its own to stop such events.
On December 27, 2021, the meeting was held between Bhushan and Poll officials where they held discussions over the steps needed to conduct polls in the safest manner during the Omicron pandemic, a variant of Covid.
The officials also sought suggestions and a detailed report from Union Health Secretary Bhushan on improving its Covid-19 protocol for poll campaigning, polling days, and the dates of counting.
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The EC is prepared for the assembly polls and is expected to announce the dates soon of Goa, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Manipur legislative assemblies are ending on different dates in March and Uttar Pradesh will end in May.
Meanwhile, the Congress cancelled its four marathon races slated this week and decided not to hold any big rallies in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh for the next 15 days amid a sudden rise in Covid infections in the country.
Congress general secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal has written to the party’s state presidents where Assembly elections are around the corner to assess the situation and decide on holding poll rallies keeping the health of the people paramount.
Party spokesperson Gourav Vallabh told reporters in Delhi the decision to cancel races and not to hold big rallies in Uttar Pradesh have been taken while considering the health of people given that the Omicron variant of coronavirus virus is spreading in India.
“Keeping in view the third wave of coronavirus in the country, the Congress has decided to withhold all its poll rallies in Uttar Pradesh.
AICC general secretary (Venugopal) has written to all Pradesh Congress Committees and in-charges in states to assess the situation and make a decision on holding poll rallies accordingly.
