Panchayat Polls: EC Urges Strict Enforcement of COVID Guidelines

Bhubaneswar (Reporters Today Bureau): The State Election Commission today asked the DGP to ensure strict enforcement of COVID guidelines as it expressed concerns over large public gatherings during the filing of nomination papers by candidates for the panchayat polls.

In a letter to the state’s DGP Sunil Bansal, SEC Secretary R.N. Sahu said the Commission has laid down Covid-19 guidelines to be enforced at different stages of the election process and DSP rank officers have been appointed as Covid observers in districts.

“Now the nomination process is going on from January 17 to 21. It is being seen that people are gathering in large numbers for filing of nominations and are holding public meetings which contravenes the guidelines,” he mentioned.

As a large number of candidates are expected to file nominations on the last day on Friday, Sahu directed the DGP to issue necessary instructions to all SPs, including Covid observers, to ensure that large gatherings do not take place in public places.