EC to stick to Bihar poll dates, with Covid norms

NEW DELHII: In a clear indication that Bihar assembly polls will be held as per schedule — notwithstanding demands from parties like Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and RJD to defer the exercise in view of rising Covid-19 cases — the Election Commission is giving final touches to broad guidelines that will ensure physical campaigning and well as conduct of polling in the state with strict adherence to social distancing norms.
Sources told TOI that the EC guidelines, to be issued in the next three days, will require candidates to be accompanied by only two persons during filing of nomination, limit the vehicles allowed in a roadshow to five, ensure 'two gaz ki doori' (two feet distance) among spectators at public meetings and rallies, besides allowing just three persons to visit houses during door-to-door campaign.
District election officers will specify the maximum number of spectators that can be allowed at rallies, by evaluating the ground's capacity based on the "minimum two feet distance" principle. All members of the public attending the rallies will have to mandatorily wear masks. Health officials may be roped in to oversee adherence to health ministry norms.
On election day, protection for polling personnel shall be ensured by providing them with sanitisers, masks and gloves. All polling staff will wear face shields. Voters will be asked to maintain social distancing while awaiting their turn to vote. While electors are expected to turn up at polling stations in masks, the EC will provide masks in case they are not wearing one. Local health workers will be posted at each polling station.
The EC norms discount the possibility of deferment of the first state election to be held following the outbreak of Covid-19, despite RJD, LJP and Congress favouring it. At the same time, it takes care of parties' concerns about too much reliance on digital campaign, a proposition that would give cash-rich parties an unfair advantage, by allowing rallies and door-to-door campaign.
A senior EC functionary told TOI that the poll panel will only give the broad outline on how best to ensure social distancing during Bihar polls — due before the term of the current state assembly expires on November 29 — and other by-polls in the country, with chief electoral officers and district election officers expected to work out the finer details of measures to be enforced on the ground to facilitate campaigning using traditional methods like public meetings and rallies as well as door-to-door canvassing, while ensuring social distancing.
The EC, TOI has learnt, has been working for almost a month to evaluate the conditions and poll preparedness in Bihar, while also consulting political parties, chief electoral officers and other officers on how polling and campaigning can be done safely with minimal risk of infection and proper adherence to health ministry norms.