Punjab Elections 2022: EC issues prohibition protocol for 48 hours prior to poll
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, 2022) ending with hours fixed for conclusion of poll in Punjab to be held on February 20, 2022.
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Voting will take place in the State of Punjab on February 20, 2022 from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Giving details on this, Chief Electoral Officer Punjab, Dr. S. Karuna Raju said that the guidelines have been issued in accordance with the provisions enacted in the Section 126 Representation of Peoples’ Act 1951.
According to the guidelines the ongoing campaigning in all the 117 assembly Constituencies would come to an end 48 hours prior to the polling time.
Subsequently all the political leaders, functionaries or Party workers who are not the registered voters will have to vacate the constituency within this period, however the elected MP or MLA of poll going Parliamentary Constituencies/Assembly Constituencies should not be asked to leave there constituencies during election to Lok Sabha/State Legislative Assembly even if he/she is not an elector of the poll going asaambly constituencies, said Dr. Raju.
Necessary guidelines have been issued to the Police and Civil Administration all across the state to ensure that the outsiders, who are not required in the area, leave immediately. All the political parties have also been briefed on this so that the ECI directive could be followed, said Dr. Raju.
The Commission has also directed the election and Police administration to keep a close check on the community centres, guest houses and lodges so that the outsiders, if any, could be kept housed without causing any disturbance during the electoral process. The Identity cards of those who stay there in the constituency would also be checked, he added. He also said that the administration has been asked to ensure all those who have been under security cover could remain there in the constituency, in which they are the registered voters, till the poll day.
Adding further, he said that these directions would not be applicable on the contesting candidates or the state heads of the political parties but they would be allowed to move only between their state party office and their residence about which the Election Commission has already been informed.
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-PTC News
