New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent address to the nation in which he appealed to people to follow COVID-19 guidelines, seems to have had no effect in poll-bound Bihar, where packed election rallies have become the norm.
Over the past few days, Bihar has witnessed several rallies - both by Tejashwi Yadav and Prime Minister Modi - with packed crowds. To make matters worse, a majority of those present in the rally were seen not wearing face-masks.
Further, even the Election Commission's warning of stern action for violation of COVID-19 protocol has gone unheeded with people gathering in huge numbers at rallies without wearing masks or caring for social distancing.
The Election Commission had on October 21 directed Bihar's Chief Electoral Officer and district administrations to "invoke appropriate and relevant penal provisions" under the Disaster Management Act and the Indian Penal Code against candidates found violating its orders.
Candidates and organisers found violating the poll watchdog's instructions could face cases and imprisonment up to two years under the relevant sections of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and the IPC.
Read: No 'anti-incumbency' in Bihar: BJP
Hundreds of people are still seen attending the rallies of top leaders including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the grand alliance's chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav without wearing face masks and pushing and shoving each other for space.
Pertinently, in July this year, as many as 75 leaders from Bihar, including the BJP state president, were infected with COVID.
Ahead of the elections, several senior leaders including Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, BJP in-charge for Bihar polls Devendra Fadnavis, former union minister and Chapra MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy, his Gaya counterpart Vijay Manjhi, BJP national spokesman Syed Shahnawaz Hussain and former state minister Narendra Singh have fallen victim to the contagion.
However, these have not had any salutary effect and the crowds remain unrestrained as people jostle for occupying vantage positions at election rallies.
Read: BJP-LJP will form new government in Bihar: Chirag Paswan
