EC wants States immediate suspension of victory celebrations

The Election Commission of India has written to Chief Secretaries of all States/UTs where counting is underway to "prohibit victory celebrations urgently". The commission has directed that responsible SHOs and other officers must be suspended immediately and criminal and disciplinary actions must be initiated against them.

The Election Commission of India's direction came after it was brought to the attention of the commission through media that at certain locations in some states, public celebrations in context to today's counting are being carried out which is in contravention of the directions issued by the Election Commission vide letter dates April 21 and May 1.

"Such activities must be prohibited urgently," the ECI order said.

The ECI said that all public celebrations are viewed very seriously and has directed the concerned officers to take strict actions to ensure compliance with its directions wherein all such activities have already been prohibited in view of the pandemic.

The Commission further directed that the responsible SHO(s) and other officers must be placed under suspension immediately and criminal/disciplinary actions must be initiated against them.

Earlier today, the news agency ANI had tweeted videos of TMC workers celebrating the party's lead in the Assembly elections in West Bengal. The DMK workers in Tamil Nadu too were seen celebrating outside party headquarters in Chennai as official trends confirmed their lead.

The counting of votes for the assembly polls in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and the Union Territory of Puducherry is underway while the Covid-19 infections are surging in the country.