New Delhi: The Election Commission has taken a serious view of the laxity on the part of political parties and candidates in terms of maintaining crowd discipline during the ongoing state election campaigns.
The Commission today reiterated and further advised the political parties to demonstrate utmost vigil and care during electioneering.
It said, the CEOs and the District Machinery are expected to invoke appropriate and relevant penal provisions against the candidates concerned and the organizers responsible for such violations.
Separate instructions for strict compliance of guidelines were also issued to Chief Electoral Officers and State Governments of poll bound states.
In its letter written to the General Secretaries and President of all the National and State Political parties, the Commission said instances of public meetings with large number of crowds assembling in utter violation of social distancing and where the political leaders and campaigners are addressing the gathering without wearing masks have come to the notice of the Commission.
It said, such instances were in complete disregard of the guidelines and instructions issued by it.
The Commission further said that political parties and candidates are not only flouting the guidelines of the Commission with impunity by such action, but also exposing the public and leaders themselves to the danger of infection during the pandemic.
