CEC to review ban on roadshows, rallies in poll-bound states

New Delhi India January 22, ANI The Election Commission of India will hold a meeting with the Union Health Secretary and the Chief Health Secretaries of the five poll-bound states on Saturday to review the ban on holding physical roadshows and rallies by political parties ahead of Assembly elections.

Chief Election Commissioner CEC Sushil Chandra will hold virtual meetings with health secretary, chief secretary, and chief Electoral Officers of five poll-bound states to take stock of the situation as India is reporting a continuous rise in COVID 19 cases.

The ban on roadshows and election rallies was put in place by the Election Commission on January 15th, and was extended until January 22. The progress on vaccination will be a factor in allowing relaxations.

India reported 3,37, 704 fresh COVID cases, 9,550 more than yesterday, and 2,42, 676 recoveries and 488 deaths in the last 24 hours. There are 21,13, 365 active cases in the country with a daily positivity rate of 17.22 per cent.

The five states that are going to polls are Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Manipur.

The election commission's goal is to have maximum voters vaccinated before the elections in these states.

Uttar Pradesh, which currently has 98,238 active COVID 19 cases, has inoculated 96 per cent of its population with the first dose in the 18 plus category.

Uttarakhand inoculated 99 per cent of its population with the first dose of COVID 19 vaccine and 84 per cent of its population with the second dose.

Goa has vaccinated 98 per cent of its population over 18 years of age with a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

On January 15, the Election Commission of India ECI has decided that no physical rallies, roadshow, pad-yatra, cycle bike rally and procession will be allowed until January 22, 2022.