HYDERABAD: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has banned victory rallies in the State on May 2 and May 3 in view of the Covid-19 situation. Separate guidelines have been issued by the ECI and State Election Commission on Wednesday for the counting days, May 2 and May 3.
Counting for Nagarjuna Sagar Assembly bypoll will take place on May 2, and the ECI has clearly said that no victory procession will be allowed after the counting.
The counting of votes will be held in Assam, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala and Puducherry on May 2.
Not more than two persons will be allowed to accompany the winning candidate to receive the certificate of election.
The ECI also stated that no candidates/agents will be allowed inside the counting hall without undergoing an RT-PCR/RAT test and having taken both the doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.
They will have to produce negative RT-PCR or RAT reports or vaccination reports within 48 hours of the start of counting. The officials will also make arrangement of RT-PCR/RAT test for candidates/counting agents before the day of counting.
The ECI said that the counting centres shall be disinfected before, during and after the counting. Sealed outer boxes of EVM/VVPAT shall also be sanitised/disinfected. The number of counting tables to be allowed in the hall will keep safety norms in view.