By Team BiharConnect

In view of the upcoming general assembly elections in Bihar, the Election Commission of India on Friday issued new guidelines for conduct of polls during Covid-19 pandemic.

Under the new guidelines door-to-door campaigns will be allowed, but with only five people. Public meetings and road shows can also be organized by following proper social distancing and other norms specified to contain the spread of Coronavirus. During the election, every voter would be required to use gloves before pressing the electronic voting machine (EVM) button. All those involved in election-related activities will have to mandatorily wear face masks.

Bihar will be the first state where assembly election will be held amid the Coronavirus pandemic. General assembly election in Bihar is scheduled to be held in October-November this year. The term of the current Bihar Legislative Assembly comes to an end on 29th November 2020.

For the first time, the candidates will have the option to deposit security amount for contesting the elections online.

Keeping the containment guidelines in view, the Commission has limited the number of persons including candidate for door to door campaign to five.

The Commission has revised the norms of number of persons accompanying the candidate and number of vehicles at the time of nomination. It has also created optional facility to fill the nomination form and the affidavit online and submission of the same, after taking print, before the RO concerned.

“Public meeting and road shows shall be permissible with suitable instructions subject to containment instructions issued by the MHA/State,” Election Commission of India said in a statement.

Face mask, sanitiser, thermal scanners, gloves, face shield and PPE kits shall be used during the electoral process ensuring social distancing norms. Hand gloves shall be provided to all the electors for signing on the voter register and pressing button of EVM for voting.

“The Chief Electoral Officers of concerned States/UTs, shall make comprehensive State/District & AC election plans regarding arrangement and preventive measures following these guidelines taking local conditions into account. These plans will be prepared in consultation with Nodal Officer for COVID-19 in their respective States/UTs,” the ECI said.