PANAJI
The State Election Commission on Wednesday granted conditional permission to the Health Department to conduct Covid vaccination drive under the Tika Utsav in a strictly “apolitical” manner in five poll-bound municipal areas till 5 pm on April 21.
As per the request of the Director of Health Services, the drive has been allowed to be undertaken in the towns of Margao, Mapusa, Mormugao, Sanguem and Quepem.
However, the SEC has issued the permission on the strict condition that there shall not be any political patronage at the venue of Covid vaccination, there should not be any advertisement showcasing the achievements of any candidate or any political functionaries or political parties and that no impression should be given or allowed to be created that such welfare measures or works are being undertaken by the government to influence the voters.
Any violation of these guidelines will result in suspension of the Tika Utsav in these areas, the SEC has warned.
The Commission said that it will monitor that the programme is held in an “apolitical manner” and any leaflets or banners or appeals in social media of any programme by candidates, party functionaries, will be strictly prohibited.
Both the district collectors, municipal council election officers, returning officers and general observers have been instructed to report any violations during the Covid vaccination drive. “Violations if any, are reported the programme to be suspended immediately after duly examining the violations reported,” the SEC has stated.
