The Election Commission of India announced a ban on all victory processions following the results which will be announced on May 02.

The poll-body also capped the number of people permitted to accompany the winning candidate to receive the election certificate to two. ECI said that the decisions were taken in “view of the surge in Covid-19 cases throughout the country”.

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An official of the Election Commission stated that on Tuesday, the poll-body placed the Trinamool Congress Birbhum president Anubrata Mondal under strict surveillance from 5 pm till Friday 7 am.

The official added, “The decision was taken in the wake of the chief electoral officer receiving several complaints against Mondal.”

“In view of the feedback received from various sources and as per the report of the DEO and SP, Birbhum, the commission has directed that Mondal be under strict surveillance of the executive magistrate and CAPF for ensuring free and fair elections,” the official further stated.

During this period, videography would be conducted “with date and stamping”.

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The Madras High Court, on Monday, had charged heavily on the Election commission of India commenting that the officers of the poll body should be booked over murder charges commenting that the ECI was responsible for the second wave of the Coronavirus in the country.

Also See: West Bengal 2021: Battleground for BJP and TMC

The scathing observations & vitriolic charges followed the Calcutta High Court censuring the poll body for not doing enough to ensure that political parties followed Covid protocols amid the surging second wave.

Vote counting for the Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Puducherry will take place on May 2.