Counting on May 2: Candidates can enter only with negative report or proof of both vaccine doses

Counting for Assembly elections in 5 states is scheduled on May 2, Sunday.

Candidates who have contested in the Assembly elections this time in five states and want to be present at during counting, won’t be allowed inside counting centres on May 2 without a negative COVID report or without proof of having taken two vaccine doses, the Election Commission has said. The EC has also banned any public gathering outside counting centres on that day.

All candidates and their agents will be allowed entry only after providing reports of negative RT-PCR test (Rapid Antigen Test) conducted not more than 48 hours earlier. They can also produce vaccination certificates. Candidates will also have to provide a list of counting agents three days before the counting day.

The poll body has already issued orders to ban victory celebrations that may be held following the announcement of results of state polls held for over a month in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry, during which there was a devastating second wave of COVID across the country.

The eighth and final phase of election in West Bengal is scheduled on April 29.

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