Campaign for Dakha bypoll ends today

LUDHIANA: The election campaign for the Dakha byelection would end on Saturday and the voting would be held on October 21. In view of the Dakha byelection, the Election Commission of India (CEI) today issued extensive guidelines for the District Election Officer to ensure prohibitions during the period of 48 hours starting 6 pm on October 19 and ending with the time fixed for the conclusion of the poll on October 21.

Residents discuss poll-related issues at Dakha. Inderjeet Verma

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 18

The election campaign for the Dakha byelection would end on Saturday and the voting would be held on October 21.

In view of the Dakha byelection, the Election Commission of India (CEI) today issued extensive guidelines for the District Election Officer to ensure prohibitions during the period of 48 hours starting 6 pm on October 19 and ending with the time fixed for the conclusion of the poll on October 21.

Giving details, the District Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, Pradeep Kumar Agrawal, said, “Guidelines have been issued in accordance with provisions enacted under Section 126 of the Representation of Peoples’ Act 1951.”

“According to the guidelines, the ongoing campaigning for the Dakha Assembly byelection will come to end 48 hours prior to the polling date (October 21). Subsequently, all political leaders, functionaries, or party workers, who are not registered voters, will have to vacate the constituency within this period. However, an elected MP or MLA of the constituency going to poll should not be asked to leave during the election even if he/she is not an elector,” Agrawal added.

“Guidelines have been issued to the police and the civil administration to ensure that outsiders, who are not required in the area, leave immediately,” said Agrawal.

He also directed the election and police administration to keep a close watch on community centres, guest houses and lodges so outsiders, if any, could be accommodated without causing any disturbance during the electoral process. Identity cards of those, who stayed in the constituency, would also be checked, he said.

“The Election Commission has also imposed a complete prohibition on broadcasting or propagating election-related material on the TV, radio or even newspapers. Such material influencing voters is not permissible during the 48 hours before poll. Any advertisement published in newspapers on October 20 and 21 requires prior permission from the ECI,” he added.