THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Election Commissioner Teeka Ram Meena on Friday said that the by-election to Chavara and Kuttanad will take place under strict COVID restrictions. While announcing that postal voting facilities will be arranged for COVID patients, Meena said that only a maximum of five persons will be allowed to visit houses during election campaigns. The nomination papers will have to be filed online.

According to Meena, a maximum of 1000 persons will be allowed in each polling booth. Stressing on the importance of practising social distancing norms at the polling booths, he added that separate queue will be arranged for elder citizens in every polling booth.

The by-elections in the two constituencies will take place along with the Bihar assembly elections in November. While the Kuttanad assembly seat vacant after the death of MLA Thomas Chandy, the Chavara seat became vacant following the death of MLA Vijayan Pillai.