The Election Commission of India has banned all the victory processions on 2nd May, the day of after the elections due to the Covid-19 surge the country is currently facing.
Usually large processions by the winning candidates are seen on after the results are announced. However, the same has not been permitted this year.
“In view of the surge in COVID-19 cases throughout the country, the Commission has decided to make more stringent provision to be followed during the process of counting, in addition to exiting broad guidelines dated 21st August, 2020, “ the ECI said in a letter to the Chief Electoral Officers of all States.
The commission has also limited the number of people accompanying the winning candidate to two.
The decision comes after the Madras High Court held the Election Commission responsible for the rapid surge in Covid-19 positive cases across India. Earlier the Calcutta High court had also censured the election commission for failing to ensure that political parties were following appropriate Covid-19 protocols.