72-Hour Silence Period, 'Night Curfew' On Campaigns In Bengal Over Covid

In its letter, the Election Commission said it had noted that Covid safety rules had not been followed during the campaign.

A 72-hour campaign silence period will be in place in the remaining rounds of voting in Bengal, the Election Commission said today, citing Covid. Rallies or meetings will not be allowed between 7 pm and 10 am, said the election body a day after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called for clubbing the four phases into one day. The decisions came on a day images of crowded political roadshows and meetings emerged from Bengal, reflecting a complete disregard to precautions needed amid a record coronavirus surge in the country. But the Election Commission ruled out packing the rest of the vote into one day of voting. In its letter, the Election Commission said it had noted that Covid safety rules had not been followed during the campaign. The poll panel has said all candidates and political parties must wear masks and it will be the duty of organisers of rallies to ensure masks and sanitisers.