EC withdraws blanket ban on victory processions

The Election Commission has relaxed the guidelines on victory processions during and after the counting and withdrawn the blanket ban on victory processions in view of COVID situation. However, this relaxation will be subject to existing instructions of SDMA and preventive measures, imposed by concerned district authorities. The Commission had earlier issued guidelines to regulate various aspects of elections including victory processions during COVID period. As the COVID situation improved, EC gradually relaxed the norms concerning electioneering in consultation with Union Health Ministry and State Governments. 

AAP leader and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has said Punjab has given chance to Arvind Kejriwal's model of governance. Talking to media in New Delhi on party's performance in Punjab,  Sisodia on Thursday said this model of governance has been established at the national level today. He called it a victory of the common man. Sisodia said AAP had fielded candidates in Goa, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh, but the focus was on Punjab. He expressed hope that people in these states will also start to believe in the party gradually.

Goa Chief Minister and BJP candidate Pramod Sawant has won Sanquelim Assembly seat. He defeated his nearest rival and Congress candidate Dharmesh Saglani by a margin of 625 votes. Senior BJP leader and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the party will form the new government in Goa. Sawant said the party will take support of Maharatrawadi Gomantak Party ( MGP) and independent candidates. 

Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur has said people have voted for BJP in Uttar Pradesh irrespective of their caste, class, and religion. Talking to the media on BJP's performance on Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, Thakur said people have placed their faith in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala described the mandate of the people in the assembly elections as an endorsement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and welfare schemes. BJP General Secretary Arun Singh has said that the mandate of the people in four states namely Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, and Manipur is the reflection of good governance and development works. Singh said the people of these States have reposed their faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. He also said that in Punjab the BJP's vote share has increased.