Polls in Covid times: No public meetings

Big stakes for BJP as it is the ruling party in four of five poll-bound states.

New Delhi: The announcement of assembly polls in five states was welcomed by major parties, with the BJP expressing confidence of emerging victorious while its rivals like the Congress claimed the people were waiting to bid farewell to the saffron party and urged the Election Commission to ensure a level playing field in view of the COVID-19 curbs on campaigning.

The BJP is in power in four of the five poll-bound states — Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur — while in Punjab it is fighting in an alliance with former chief minister Amarinder Singh and an Akali faction to take on the ruling Congress, AAP and SAD-BSP.

Election fever has already gripped these states, with parties holding election rallies and other events to woo voters over the last few months. However, the EC on Saturday banned all public meetings till January 15 due to the COVID- 19 surge and urged political parties to shift to the digital mode of campaigning. People will again bless the BJP, which will return to power with big majority and take development works to new heights, BJP president J P Nadda said. —(PTI)