Amid risingcoronavirus cases, the Election Commission has flagged instances of starcampaigners and political leaders campaigning without masks, and warned it willnot hesitate to ban rallies if COVID guidelines issued by it last year arebreached.

In a letterto leaders of all recognised political parties issued on Friday, the poll panelsaid, "It is widely known that in the recent weeks, COVID cases are beingreported in larger numbers. However, instances of election meetings/campaignshave come to the notice of the commission, where norms of social distancing,wearing of masks have been flouted in disregard to the commission'sguidelines."

The letterpointed out instances of star campaigners and political leaders or candidatesnot observing COVID-19 protocols, "including non-wearing of masksthemselves at stage or while campaigning".

"Bydoing so, the political parties and candidates are exposing themselves as wellas the public attending such election meetings to the grave danger of the infection,"the letter said.

In cases ofbreach, the Election Commission (EC) said it will "not hesitate in banningpublic meetings, rallies of defaulting candidates, star campaigners orpolitical leaders without any further reference".

On Thursday,the Delhi High Court had sought responses from the commission and the centralgovernment on the use of masks during poll campaigns.

While thethree-phase election in Assam and the single-phase polls in Tamil Nadu, Keralaand Puducherry are over, the fourth leg of the eight-phase West Bengal assemblyelection is being held on Saturday.

The pollpanel said it has taken a "serious view of the laxity" in followingnorms, particularly not wearing masks and not maintaining social distancing bypolitical leaders on the dais or stage.

It askedparties to follow its guidelines with all seriousness. The two-page letter saidit is advisable that political leaders and candidates, who have the incumbentduty to control the spread of COVID-19, lead by example.

They mustpush all their supporters in the beginning of a rally, meeting or a campaign towear masks and use sanitisers, and put in place crowd-control measures as persocial distancing norms, according to the letter.

"Politicalparties, leaders, campaigners, candidates, existing or aspiring policymakersare expected to be torch-bearers for the campaign against COVID and hence, areexpected to not only set an example by maintaining social distancing, wearingmasks and following prescribed protocols but also by exhorting all the localformations who attend programmes to follow COVID protocols," the letterread.

In Octoberlast year, the EC had taken a serious view of "utter violation" ofsocial distancing norms during poll campaigning and leaders addressing publicmeetings without wearing masks in complete disregard of its guidelines issuedin August ahead of the Bihar assembly elections.