Against the backdrop of rising Covid-19 cases and the heavy political rhetoric in poll-bound areas, the Election Commission (EC) on Friday extended the “silence” period from 48 hours to 72 hours in each of the remaining three of the eight phases of the West Bengal polls to be held on April 22, 26, and 29.
The commission has curtailed the timing of campaigning up to 7pm from 10 pm. It has banned rallies, public meetings, nukkad sabha, and street play from 7 pm to 10 am beginning Friday.
“Commission curtails the timing of the campaign up to 7 pm. The silence period has been extended from 48 hours to 72 hours in each of the remaining three phases in West Bengal. These orders have come into effect immediately,” the EC said in a letter to the president, general secretary and chairman of the national and state-level political parties.
The poll body has also directed the political parties/candidates to provide masks, sanitizers, etc, to the participants and account for the cost in expenditure limits. If Covid 19 norms are flouted at any public meetings and rallies, the district election officers and returning officers can cancel the public meetings and rallies and invoke penal actions.
“It shall be the responsibility of the organisers of public meetings, rallies, etc to provide masks and sanitisers to every person attending these meetings, rallies, etc at their cost which shall be added and counted within limits of prescribed expenditure. Organisers shall also ensure proper usage of masks, sanitisers and also be responsible for maintaining minimum social distance by everyone. District Election Officers and Returning Officers shall take strict measures to enforce Covid guidelines during the campaign. They shall cancel public meetings, rallies, etc. if any violations are observed, in addition to invoking penal sections,” the EC said.
Due to spike in Covid 19 cases, the EC has reduced the maximum number of electors per booth from 1500 to 1000 and marking of six feet distance for the queue outside the polling station to maintain social distancing.
Earlier, at the meeting of the political parties, CEO Ariz Aftab them to strictly follow the COVID-19 protocol of wearing masks and maintain physical distancing while campaigning for the remaining phases. “Wearing a mask, keeping adequate sanitizers have been made mandatory at all political rallies. Any violations of the protocol shall be sternly dealt with. Criminal action will be taken as per the legal framework,” EC officials told the representatives of the political parties.
The poll panel called an all-party meeting in Kolkata after the Calcutta High Court sought its response on the actions and steps taken on Covid-19 safety protocols during the poll campaign. Political parties assured their full cooperation to the Election Commission in adhering to Covid-19 protocols.