The Evening Wrap: Election Commission extends ban on rallies, roadshows till January 22

The Election Commission on Saturday banned rallies and roadshows in the five election-going States, but allowed political parties to hold indoor meetings of up to 300 people or 50% of the venue’s capacity. While announcing the poll schedule for Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand on January 8, the EC banned all physical rallies, roadshows, padyatras, processions and vehicle rallies in view of the rising COVID-19 cases. Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra had said the ban would be till Saturday, when it would be reviewed. On Saturday, the EC held virtual meetings with the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry and Chief Electoral Officers, Chief Secretaries and Health Secretaries of the five poll-bound States. The three-member Commission held a “comprehensive review of present status and projected trends of COVID pandemic with special focus in the five poll going States”, an EC statement said. The EC decided to continue the ban on roadshows, padyatras, cycle/bike/vehicle rallies, processions and rallies by political parties and candidates till January 22, when it would review the decision again. “However, the Commission has granted relaxation for the political parties to the extent that indoor meetings of maximum 300 persons or 50% of the capacity of the hall or the prescribed limit set by SDMA will be allowed,” the EC statement read. U.P. Assembly elections 2022 | BJP names 107 candidates, fields Adityanath from Gorakhpur The BJP on Saturday declared its first list of candidates for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly poll, with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to contest from Gorakhpur (Urban) and Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya from the Sirathu Assembly constituency. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and BJP general secretary Arun Singh named a total of 107 candidates for the first two phases of the seven-phase election. With the declaration of Mr. Adityanath’s seat as Gorakhpur, all speculation that he might contest from Ayodhya has also been put to rest. Sources in the party said that while Ayodhya may have been under consideration, with the aim that the Chief Minister’s presence at a seat outside his turf of Gorakhpur may influence more areas, the recent exit of 10 MLAs, including three Ministers from the Adityanath government, mostly from eastern Uttar Pradesh, and their joining the Samajwadi Party made the decision go towards protecting existing turfs rather than expend political capital on other seats. The list of 107 seats, 57 for phase I and 48 for phase II, saw 63 out of 83 sitting MLAs of the party being retained and 20 MLAs dropped. As far as the caste break-up of the candidate list goes, 68% of the seats have gone to OBC candidates (44 candidates) and 19 to SC candidates, including Jagpal Singh being fielded from the general category seat of Saharanpur. While 10 women have been included in the list, no Muslim has been given ticket. Former Uttarakhand Governor Baby Rani Maurya has been fielded from Agra (Rural) constituency. Among other prominent names in the list are Shrikant Sharma, who has been retained from Mathura, Mriganka Singh from Kairana, Pankaj Singh (son of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh) from Noida, Suresh Rana from Thana Bhawan and Dhirendra Singh from Jewar. Virat Kohli steps down as Test captain Virat Kohli on Saturday dropped a bombshell by quitting Test captaincy following the unexpected series defeat against South Africa. Kohli was appointed Test captain in 2014 when M.S. Dhoni stepped down in the middle of the series against Australia. "Every thing has to come to a halt at some stage and for me as Test captain of India, it's now. There have been many ups and also some downs along the journey but there has never been lack of effort or lack of belief," Kohli wrote in a statement which he posted on Twitter, taking everyone by surprise. His shock announcement came a day after India lost the Test series in South Africa 1-2. Kohli led India to the top of world rankings, and during his tenure the team recorded a memorable series win in Australia. The 33-year old had recently quit as T20 captain and was later sacked at ODI captain by the BCCI. Won’t let any attempt to change status quo along borders: Army Chief The Army will not let any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo along the country’s borders succeed, Army Chief Gen. M.M. Naravane said addressing the rank and file on Saturday while the Army’s paratroopers showcased the new combat dress at the Army Day parade. “Our patience is a sign of our self-confidence, but no one should make the mistake of testing it... Our message is clear, the Indian Army won’t let any attempt to unilaterally change status quo along country’s borders to succeed,” Gen. Naravane said addressing the parade on the 74th Army Day. His comments come in the backdrop of the continuing standoff in eastern Ladakh with the 14th round of Corps Commander talks between India and China earlier this week failing to achieve a breakthrough for the next phase of disengagement at Hot Springs. Over 50,000 troops from each side continue to be deployed in the high altitude region very close to the Line of Actual Control in extreme winters. Gen. Naravane said joint efforts at various levels have led to disengagement in many areas which in itself is a constructive step and added that on the basis of “mutual and equal security”, efforts would continue to find a solution to the current situation. Covid Watch: Numbers and Developments The number of reported coronavirus cases from India stood at 3,68,52,416 at the time of publishing this newsletter, with the death toll at 4,85,807. Compiled by Vikrant Jha Evening Wrap will return tomorrow. [logo] The Evening Wrap 15 JANUARY 2022 [The Hindu logo] Welcome to the Evening Wrap newsletter, your guide to the day’s biggest stories with concise analysis from The Hindu. [[Arrow]Open in browser]( [[Mail icon]More newsletters]( Election Commission extends ban on rallies, roadshows till January 22 The Election Commission on Saturday [banned rallies and roadshows in the five election-going States]( but allowed political parties to hold indoor meetings of up to 300 people or 50% of the venue’s capacity. While announcing the poll schedule for Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand on January 8, the EC banned all physical rallies, roadshows, padyatras, processions and vehicle rallies in view of the rising COVID-19 cases. Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra had said the ban would be till Saturday, when it would be reviewed. On Saturday, the EC held virtual meetings with the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry and Chief Electoral Officers, Chief Secretaries and Health Secretaries of the five poll-bound States. The three-member Commission held a “comprehensive review of present status and projected trends of COVID pandemic with special focus in the five poll going States”, an EC statement said. The EC decided to continue the ban on roadshows, padyatras, cycle/bike/vehicle rallies, processions and rallies by political parties and candidates till January 22, when it would review the decision again. “However, the Commission has granted relaxation for the political parties to the extent that indoor meetings of maximum 300 persons or 50% of the capacity of the hall or the prescribed limit set by SDMA will be allowed,” the EC statement read. [underlineimg] U.P. Assembly elections 2022 | BJP names 107 candidates, fields Adityanath from Gorakhpur The BJP on Saturday declared its [first list of candidates]( for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly poll, with [Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath]( to contest from Gorakhpur (Urban) and Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya from the Sirathu Assembly constituency. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and BJP general secretary Arun Singh named a total of 107 candidates for the first two phases of the seven-phase election. [Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addresses a press conference after inspecting a COVID-19 care ward at BRD Medical Collage in Gorakhpur on January 15, 2022.]  With the declaration of Mr. Adityanath’s seat as Gorakhpur, all speculation that he might contest from Ayodhya has also been put to rest. Sources in the party said that while Ayodhya may have been under consideration, with the aim that the Chief Minister’s presence at a seat outside his turf of Gorakhpur may influence more areas, the recent exit of 10 MLAs, including three Ministers from the Adityanath government, mostly from eastern Uttar Pradesh, and their joining the Samajwadi Party made the decision go towards protecting existing turfs rather than expend political capital on other seats. The list of 107 seats, 57 for phase I and 48 for phase II, saw 63 out of 83 sitting MLAs of the party being retained and 20 MLAs dropped. As far as the caste break-up of the candidate list goes, 68% of the seats have gone to OBC candidates (44 candidates) and 19 to SC candidates, including Jagpal Singh being fielded from the general category seat of Saharanpur. While 10 women have been included in the list, no Muslim has been given ticket. Former Uttarakhand Governor Baby Rani Maurya has been fielded from Agra (Rural) constituency. Among other prominent names in the list are Shrikant Sharma, who has been retained from Mathura, Mriganka Singh from Kairana, Pankaj Singh (son of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh) from Noida, Suresh Rana from Thana Bhawan and Dhirendra Singh from Jewar. [underlineimg] Virat Kohli steps down as Test captain Virat Kohli on Saturday dropped a bombshell by [quitting Test captaincy]( following the unexpected series defeat against South Africa. Kohli was appointed Test captain in 2014 when M.S. Dhoni stepped down in the middle of the series against Australia. [Virat Kohli.]  "Every thing has to come to a halt at some stage and for me as Test captain of India, it's now. There have been many ups and also some downs along the journey but there has never been lack of effort or lack of belief," Kohli wrote in a statement which he posted on Twitter, taking everyone by surprise. His shock announcement came a day after India lost the Test series in South Africa 1-2. Kohli led India to the top of world rankings, and during his tenure the team recorded a memorable series win in Australia. The 33-year old had recently quit as T20 captain and was later sacked at ODI captain by the BCCI. [underlineimg] Won’t let any attempt to change status quo along borders: Army Chief The Army will not let any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo along the country’s borders succeed, [Army Chief Gen. M.M. Naravane said]( addressing the rank and file on Saturday while the Army’s paratroopers showcased the new combat dress at the Army Day parade. “Our patience is a sign of our self-confidence, but no one should make the mistake of testing it... Our message is clear, the Indian Army won’t let any attempt to unilaterally change status quo along country’s borders to succeed,” Gen. Naravane said addressing the parade on the 74th Army Day. His comments come in the backdrop of the continuing standoff in eastern Ladakh with the [14th round of Corps Commander talks]( between India and China earlier this week failing to achieve a breakthrough for the next phase of disengagement at Hot Springs. Over 50,000 troops from each side continue to be deployed in the high altitude region very close to the Line of Actual Control in extreme winters. Gen. Naravane said joint efforts at various levels have led to disengagement in many areas which in itself is a constructive step and added that on the basis of “mutual and equal security”, efforts would continue to find a solution to the current situation. [underlineimg] Covid Watch: Numbers and Developments The [number of reported coronavirus cases from India]( stood at 3,68,52,416 at the time of publishing this newsletter, with the death toll at 4,85,807. 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