Odisha Bypolls: Govt Announces Conditions For Political Meetings

Bhubaneswar: The state government on Saturday revised its guidelines for COVID-19 in view of byelections to two Assembly constituencies.

As per the revised norms, political meetings, functions and gatherings will be allowed within the jurisdiction of the two constituencies on following conditions:

• In closed spaces, maximum 50% of the hall capacity will be allowed with a ceiling of 200 persons. Wearing masks and maintaining social distance by the participants and arrangements for thermal scanning and hand sanitizer will be mandatory.
• In open space, the district administration will give permission for gathering keeping the size of the ground in view. Other conditions for closed space will also be applicable here.

The district magistrate will ensure strict enforcement of the conditions for holding the political meetings, a release from the office of special relief commissioner stated.

It may be noted that the Election Commission of India has announced to hold the bypolls to Tirtol (SC) in Jagatsinghpur district and Balasore Assembly constituencies on November 3.