The Election Commission (EC) will meet on Monday to review its ban on physical political rallies, roadshows and bike and cycle rallies in the five poll-bound States of Uttar Pradesh (UP), Uttarakhand, Goa, Manipur and Punjab.

The commission may also decide whether fresh relaxations can be extended to political parties and candidates in holding physical campaigning events. Earlier this month, the EC had banned poll rallies in order to control the spread of Covid-19 in India.

Sources said banning of political rallies, roadshows, cycle and bike rallies will depend on the prevailing Covid situation in these States. 

“The commission will discuss with all stakeholders including the Union Health Secretary, Health Secretaries of the States, Chief Secretaries and the Chief Electoral Officers of the five States before taking the decision,” sources said.

The ECI had on Saturday extended the ban on physical political rallies, roadshows, padyatras, cycle and bike rallies, and processions till January 31 in the five poll-bound States but relaxed the norms for public meetings.

This is the second time the commission has extended the ban after the first one was announced on January 15 and the second was declared on January 22.

The poll panel also increased the five-person limit for door-to-door campaigning to ten and allowed video vans for publicity at designated open spaces with coronavirus restrictions.

According to the Health Ministry, with 2,34,281 people testing positive for the coronavirus infection in a day, India’s total tally of cases increased to over 4.10 crore on Sunday.

The death toll climbed to 4,94,091 with 893 fatalities reported during the 24-hour period.

In Manipur, Governor La Ganesan on Saturday met several spiritual leaders seeking their help to ramp up vaccination. In a meeting with 18 Church leaders and 17 Imams, the Governor requested them to encourage people to take both doses of the Covid-19 vaccination as the State is also gearing up for the elections.