Chandigarh Punjab India January 8, ANI With only one month remaining for Punjab Assembly elections and possible change of power, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi expressed gratitude to the people and Congress for considering him worthy of being Chief Minister for 111 days.
He also welcomed the instructions from the Election Commission of India ECI over holding Assembly polls in the state, due on February 14.
I welcome the instructions from the EC. We were only a working government until now, but now we will start thinking about elections. With folded hands, I would like to thank the people of Punjab and Congress for considering me worthy to be Chief Minister for 111 days," Channi said at a press conference.
Congress has resisted from announcing a chief ministerial face in Punjab ahead of the polls.
The Election Commission of India ECI on Saturday announced the date of the polls in four other states and issued some restrictions in view of the spread of COVID 19 infection. The count of votes will be done on March 10.
After the announcement of the ECI, Channi assured that the instructions of the ECI are for all and will be followed.
He said that we will abide by the norms of the ECI in view of COVID-19.
Channi, Punjab's first Dalit Chief Minister, was sworn in as Chief Minister in September last year.
After the COVID-19 surge, the Election Commission of India on Saturday said that no physical political rallies and roadshows will be allowed until January 15, but further rallies and election campaign meetings will only be allowed in earmarked places and with prior permissions of the district administration.
The revised guidelines said no roadshow, Pad-yatra, cycle, bike, vehicle rally and procession will be allowed until January 15th, 2022. The commission will issue further instructions and review the situation. With prior permission of the district administration, rallies and meetings are allowed only in earmarked places. The election commission said that all parties or candidates must furnish an undertaking in the application and allocation of public spaces will be done using the Suvidha app.
Physical rallies as and when permitted by the Commission after the decision of the Commission, however, will be subject to adherence to the COVID-19 guidelines.
The maximum number of persons allowed for indoor and outdoor rallies and meetings shall be as per the existing direction of the State Disaster Management Authorities SDMAs. Political parties shall distribute masks and sanitisers to persons attending and maintaining the COVID protocol at entry and exit point.