Poll panel set to remove 1,000 person cap on physical rallies

The Election Commission of India is set to significantly relax Covid-19-related campaign restrictions on physical rallies, based on the feedback received on Saturday from the Union Health ministry, Chief Secretaries of the five poll bound states and Special observers deployed by it.ET has learnt that the Commission is likely to do away with the cap of 1,000 persons in attendance at physical rallies.It is instead considering linking the physical rally participation to 25%-40% of the ground capacity, with due physical distancing norms in place.

The poll panel, however, is not inclined to make any further relaxations in number restrictions for door to door campaigning- at 20 persons currently. It is also unlikely to allow vehicle rallies and roadshows still.The EC held a review meet with the Union Health Secretary and the officials from the poll bound states on Saturday on the COVID 19 scenario.The EC relaxation is set to come in almost a month after elections were announced in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Goa and Uttarakhand and days before the first phase of polls is held. While there has been a complete ban on physical rallies for two weeks, the poll panel allowed limited gatherings with caps of 500-1,000 over the last two weeks.Several small political parties are also learnt to have requested the EC to allow them to campaign in a full fledged manner, especially, as campaign winds up for phase 1.Phase 1 elections will be held in Uttar Pradesh on February 10 and Phase 2 polls will be held on February 14 in Goa and Uttarakhand besides UP.Key to EC’s decision, however, is the latest data and inputs received from the Health ministry and state governments on the COVID 19 scenario in poll bound states.