As the dust settles on the five state elections, the Trinamool Congress and DMK simply could not contain their excitement and indulged in victory celebrations where the party leaders openly flouted COVID norms set by the Election Commission. This comes after both TMC and DMK blamed the BJP for the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus across the country during their respective campaigns.
In what can be seen as open defiance of the strict orders from the Election Commission and the Madras High Court, after winning the elections, both TMC and DMK were seen flouting the COVID norms while celebrating their respective victories in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
In West Bengal, Trinamool Congress workers and supporters were seen celebrating Mamata Banerjee’s successful defence in large numbers at Kalighat with a section of workers also seen celebrating in Asansol. True to their characteristics, TMC supporters gathered in large numbers outside the BJP office in Kolkata’s Hastings area.
The celebrations broke out despite the Election Commission had earlier banned all victory processions on or after the day of the counting of votes.
“In view of the surge in COVID 19 cases throughout the country, the Commission has decided to make more stringent provision to be followed during the process of Counting, in addition to exiting Broad Guidelines dated 21st August 2020 and has directed that no victory procession after the counting on 2.5.2021 shall be permissible,” read the order copy by the EC.
It categorically stated that not more than two persons shall be allowed to accompany the winning candidate or his/her authorised representative to receive the certificate of election from the Returning Officer concerned.
Earlier, Mamata Banerjee had claimed that the BJP brought Covid to the state under the garb of election campaign. “They have got a whole lot of people into the state. In the name of election campaign, they have got so many outsiders and they have spread the disease here and run away and now they say, ‘Give us the vote’,” said the West Bengal Chief Minister.
Whereas Tamil Nadu Chief Minister-in-waiting and DMK Chief MK Stalin claimed that the second wave of the Wuhan coronavirus swept across the country due to the Centre’s ‘lackadaisical’ attitude and ‘careless’ administration.
“The BJP government’s lackadaisical attitude and careless administration are the reason for the second wave effecting such severe impact in the country, including Tamil Nadu,” stated the dynast.
If the celebrations are any indication, it seems unlikely that the TMC and DMK will extensively focus on Covid management and will instead pin the blame on the Modi government if things were to get out of hand.