Avoid public meetings in extreme heat, EC tells parties, candidates

In the wake of complaints from various stakeholders, the Election Commission on Thursday requested political parties and contesting candidates to avoid holding of public meetings in extreme heat conditions.

"The commission has been receiving complaints/representations from various stakeholders and citizen groups including some political parties regarding severe hardships being faced by the citizens during public meetings organised in the current oppressive heat conditions in the afternoon/daytime of the prevailing peak summer days," the poll panel said in a statement.

A few incidents have also been brought to the notice of the commission, where some people have died at the election campaign meeting sites during the meetings due to exposure to extreme heat, it said, advising parties, candidates and their election agents to "avoid holding of public meetings in extreme heat conditions, during the prevailing peak summer months."

"It is, further, required that public meeting venues should have adequate facility of shade/shelter, drinking water, medical aid to safeguard the participating citizens from the sweltering heat. The political parties may also make adequate arrangements of drinking water, first aid facilities, etc, for the benefit and convenience of the public so that no human life is put to danger under difficult condition."

--IANS

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Sirshendu PanthBureau Chief, IANS, Kolkata.

Indo-Asian News Service