SEC Relaxes Campaign Restrictions For Odisha Panchayat Polls

Bhubaneswar: The State Election Commission (SEC) has relaxed COVID restrictions for Panchayat elections campaigning.

Check the revised guidelines:

1. Door to door campaign with 20 persons, including the candidate, is allowed instead of 5.

2. Public meetings can be organised by political parties/contesting candidates with prior permission of the appropriate authority with a maximum of 300 persons in open ground subject to strict observance of COVID protocols – compulsory use of face mask and social distancing.

The SEC had earlier barred political parties or the candidates from taking out political rallies.

The Panchayat polls will be held in five phases between February 16 and 24. The counting of votes will be held on February 26, 27 and 28.