Assembly elections 2022: EC extends ban on physical rallies, roadshows till January 31

New Delhi, January 21: In view of surge in Covid-19 cases, the Election Commission of India has extended ban on physical rallies and roadshows till January 31, 2022. The Assembly elections 2022 are scheduled in five states. However, the Election Commission has extended relaxation for physical public meetings of political parties or contesting candidates for Phase 1 from January 28, 2022, and for Phase 2 from February 1, 2022. The earlier limit of five persons for door-to-door campaigning has been increased to 10 persons. Video vans for publicity have been permitted at designated open spaces with Covid-19 restrictions. Earlier in the day, the Election Commission of India held a meeting with the Union Health Secretary and the Chief Health Secretaries of the five poll-bound states to review the ban on holding physical roadshows and rallies by political parties ahead of the Assembly elections. Also read | 10 trains cancelled on Delhi-Mathura route as goods train derails in UP's Mathura Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sushil Chandra held virtual meetings with the 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 Election commission had put a ban on election rallies and roadshows until January 15 first and later extended till January 22. Also read | Now, six members can register using one mobile number on CoWIN portal As of Saturday, India reported 3,37,704 fresh Covid cases (9,550 more than Friday) and 2,42,676 recoveries and 488 deaths in the last 24 hours. Total 21,13,365 active cases are in the country with a daily positivity rate of 17.22 per cent. The five states going to polls are Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa. -PTC News