CEO direct to strictly adhere Covid rule

Chief Electoral officer C Palrasu has directed all Poltical parties and Election officers to ensure strict adherence of Covid-19 rules during election campaign and election operation process
 Chief Electoral Officer said that during the by-elections for Mandi Lok Sabha and Fatehpur, Arki and Jubbal-Kotkhai assembly constituencies, along with District Election Officers to ensure adherence to the COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedure.  
Strict instructions have been issued to various political parties.
 All necessary arrangements have been made at the state and district level to deal with every situation.  Instructions have been given to appoint health nodal officers at the state, district and assembly constituency levels.
  The concerned district election officers and election officers at the district and assembly constituency level have been asked to take all necessary steps for proper and advance coordination and assistance with the health officers.
 The concerned District Election Officer (Deputy Commissioner) has been asked to ensure the availability of thermal scanners, sanitizers, soap and water arrangements, gloves, face-shields, masks etc. at the polling stations.
 Instructions have been issued to maintain social distancing at polling stations, training places, dispatch and collection centres. 
 Large halls, rooms, dispatch, collection centres, randomization rooms of EVMs, VVPATs and their storage and counting centers have been identified for the purpose of training in a decentralized/shift manner. 
 In order to ensure that the comprehensive guidelines related to COVID-19 issued by the Election Commission of India are implemented in letter and spirit, provision of adequate number of polling/counting staff including reserved staff is being ensured.
 He said that strict guidelines have been given to all the candidates and their representatives and the political parties concerned to ensure compliance of COVID-19 rules during the election campaign.  
Door to door campaign can be run with 5 persons including candidates and their representatives.  
Road shows and motor/bike/cycle rallies will also not be allowed.  During the campaign through video, not more than 50 spectators are allowed in a cluster point as per the availability of space and compliance of COVID guidelines.
 The use of vehicles for campaigning has been limited and the total number of vehicles allowed (excluding star campaigners) for a candidate/political party is capped at 20 and this too has been capped at 50% of the capacity of persons permitted per vehicle.
 2 vehicles with a maximum of 3 persons will be allowed on the polling day.  Vehicles engaged in security arrangements will be allowed as per the extant guidelines in force.
 For meetings to be held in the Hall or other indoor venues, 30% of the permitted capacity or 200 persons, whichever is less, may attend.  A register has been asked to be kept to count the number of people who attended the meeting.
 Meetings or meetings held in open spaces (outdoor) are allowed to assemble only 50 per cent of the capacity in case of star campaigners or one thousand and in all other cases 50 per cent of the capacity or 500 people, whichever is less  Is.  During the event, instructions have been given to close the entire area and to guard the police. 
 The count of those entering the field will be monitored.  The cost of siege and barricading would be borne by the candidate or party.  Only those grounds which are fully cordoned or  barricaded would be used for rallies.
 A maximum of 50 persons will be allowed in street gatherings subject to availability of space and compliance with COVID-19 guidelines.  There is a period of silence 72 hours before the end of the voting.
 The District Election Officer has been instructed to take appropriate measures to prevent crowding on the counting day.  
Proper distance and other COVID safety protocols will have to be strictly followed at all times during the counting of votes.