EC advises political parties to avoid meetings in extreme heat

In view of the heatwave condition prevailing in many parts of West Bengal, the Election Commission today issued an advisory to political parties asking them to avoid public meetings in extreme heat.
"The commission has considered the matter and having regard to the totality of facts and circumstances, require all political parties, contesting candidates and their election agents to avoid holding of public meetings in extreme heat conditions, during the prevailing peak summer months," the EC said in an advisory.
Various stakeholders like citizen groups had complained to the EC regarding severe hardships being faced by citizens during public meetings organised in the current oppressive heat condition in the afternoon or daytime of the prevailing peak summer days.

"A few incidents have also been brought to the notice of the commission, where some persons have died at the election campaign meeting sites during the meetings due to exposure to extreme heat," the poll panel said.
Several districts of the state have been reeling under heatwave. Temperature in most parts of Gangetic West Bengal remained above 40 degrees Celsius today, with Bankura recording the day's highest at 44.5 degrees.
The commission also asked political parties to ensure that public meeting venues have adequate facility of shade, drinking water, medical aid to safeguard the participating citizens from the sweltering heat.

The political parties may also make adequate arrangement 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, it said.
The commission advised all political parties, candidates and their agents to keep in view the above suggested arrangement while undertaking campaign.