Karnataka bypolls: EC flags 144 cases of COVID-19 norm violations

Five of CM’s election rallies had attracted ire of the commission

Even as Karnataka struggles to cope with the second wave of COVID-19, byelections have brought in anxiety over the spread of infection, especially with Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa testing positive on Friday. It has emerged that five of his poll rallies during the past few days had attracted the ire of the Election Commission (EC) for violation of COVID-19 guidelines. The guidelines issued by the State were found to have been violated during three campaign rallies attended by Mr. Yediyurappa at Maski in Raichur, and two in Belagavi. Fines were levied on three campaign organisers in Maski, while advisory notices have been issued for the violations in Belagavi. In all, the EC has flagged 144 cases of violations of COVID-19 guidelines during the campaign by political parties for the byelections to Belagavi Lok Sabha, and Maski and Basavakalyan Assembly constituencies. While 17 FIRs were filed or are in the process of being filed, in about 75 instances fines were levied on the persons concerned. Incidentally, of the 17 FIRs 15 were filed in Basavakalyan alone; the other two were in Maski.