'Uphill task for EC to enforce COVID-19 rules'

October 24, 2020 16:41

The Election Commission has the requisite powers to take strict measures like banning rallies and countermanding polls for violation of COVID-19 guidelines during campaigning, but it will be an uphill task to ensure compliance, according to former chief election commissioners.

Campaigning is on for Bihar assembly polls as well as for by-elections in other states, and the EC has already cautioned parties that penal provisions can be invoked against them by district authorities for violations.

While most of the former CECs said implementing health guidelines during campaigning is not easy given the number of candidates, parties and voters involved, two of them said the EC could take "demonstrative action" such as postponing polls in a few constituencies and banning rallies to show that it means business.

Responding to a question on how the EC would enforce the guidelines, a senior functionary said the Commission has all the means to ensure implementation.

"The more reports we get of violations, the more action we will take... EC has all the means," the functionary said without elaborating.

Former chief election commissioner V S Sampath said if the violation is by one party or one candidate, action can be taken.

"But if it is a universal violation, you cannot postpone elections. When you are ordering elections under such circumstances, you should anticipate this kind of a fallout also," he told PTI.

At the same time, Sampath said, it does not mean the EC should take things lying down because it is a matter of public health.

"There is no way you can implement this 100 per cent, but they (EC) will have to do their best. They have to maintain a delicate balance, which they are perhaps doing," Sampath, who was CEC between 2012 and 2015, said.

SY Quraishi, who is also a former chief election commissioner, said the EC's recent guidelines, based on experiences of various countries, are "very good".

"It was a question of enforcement. I am happy that the EC is now coming down heavily on this (violations)."

-- PTI

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