Ensure curbs 48 hours before Punjab poll: Election Commission

Chandigarh, February 17

The Election Commission of India today issued extensive guidelines to the District Election Officers to ensure prohibitions during the period of 48 hours (6 pm on February 18) before the polling that is to be held on February 20.

Giving details, Punjab Chief Electoral Officer S Karuna Raju said all political leaders, functionaries or party workers who are not registered voters in that constituency should leave the area within this period. However, the elected MP or MLA should not be asked to leave their areas during the election even if he/she is not an elector of the poll-going Assembly constituency.

The EC has asked the police and civil administration to ensure that outsiders who are not required in the area leave immediately. The commission has also directed the election and police administration to keep a tab on community centres, guest houses and lodges so that outsiders, if any, could be kept housed to check any disturbance during the electoral process. The identity cards of those who stay there in the constituency would be checked, he added.