The Election Commission has reminded its officials that there is a ban on taking out victory processions in the states where counting of votes is going on for the Lok Sabha and assembly by-elections, in view of efforts to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection.
The counting of votes cast in the by-elections to 29 assembly seats and three Lok Sabha seats is underway. In a letter to the Chief Electoral Officers of Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Telangana, West Bengal and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, the Commission said its directions on banning victory processions issued in April would be applicable in the recent by-elections as well.
Voting was held on October 30 for the by-elections in these states and union territories. Assembly elections were held in Assam, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, West Bengal and Kerala earlier this year and then the counting of votes took place. These instructions were issued during the same time to prevent the increase of corona cases.
Referring to instructions dated April 27, it has been said that no victory procession is allowed after the vote count. Not more than two persons shall be allowed to accompany the winning candidate or his authorized representative to collect the certificate of election from the concerned Returning Officer.
Assembly elections were held in Assam, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, West Bengal and Kerala earlier this year. And then the counting of votes took place. These instructions were issued during the same time to prevent the increase of cases of Covid-19.