Election Commission bans victory celebrations on or after counting day eyeing COVID-19 surge

 The EC no victory processions would be allowed and only two people would be allowed to accompany in with the Candidates.

The Indian Electoral Commission (ECI) on April 27 closed the victory process after announcing the results of the elections in Assam, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, West Bengal and Kerala on May 2 due to an increase in COVID-19 cases.


The decision comes a day after the ECI filed a lawsuit against the Supreme Court of Madras over breaches of the COVID-19 agreement during a five-parliamentary election campaign. The court blamed the ECI for the second wave of the epidemic in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

"Given the increase in COVID-19 cases across the country, the Commission has decided to make stricter arrangements for the calculation, in addition to the release of comprehensive guidelines dated August 21, 2020," ECI said in a letter to senior election officials in all countries.

It said no test of victory would be allowed after the counting of votes and only people who were allowed would be allowed to accompany the winner or the representative of those who were authorized to obtain an election certificate from the Return Officer.

The ECI had issued election guidelines during the epidemic in August last year and again during the recent Council elections.

BJP President JP Nadda has accepted an order from the Electoral Commission.

"I welcome the ECI's decision to ban the celebrations and electoral process. I have instructed all BJP organs of state to adhere strictly to this decision. All BJP karykartas are using their power to help those in need during this difficult time," he said. Even in a tweet.