Campaigning in Karnataka ends at 6 p.m. today

There will be a ban on holding public meetings and taking out processions for the next 48 hours in the State

April 15, 2014 12:56 pm | Updated November 27, 2021 06:54 pm IST - Bangalore:

The Lok Sabha election campaigning in the State will come to an end at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, with the Election Commission imposing a ban on holding public meetings and taking out processions for the next 48 hours in the State, according to Chief Electoral Officer Anil Kumar Jha here on Monday.

Speaking to presspersons, he said polling would be held on April 17 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Voters, who go to exercise their franchise at the polling stations before 6 p.m. would be allowed to cast their votes.

He said no poll survey or opinion polls can be published or televised, including panel discussions, during this period as it would amount to influencing the voters.

Violations

Any violation would attract penal provisions under the Representation of the People Act. While the candidates have been allowed to use a small table and two chairs with a banner and an umbrella 200 m from the polling station, no one else except the officials on election duty is allowed near the booth.

No mobile phones are permitted on the premises.

The commission will issue official slips to voters as also the political parties. The functionaries of the political parties, other than the candidates, local MPs and MLAs should leave the constituencies, if they are not voters, Mr. Jha said.

Taking or giving bribe either in cash or in kind, casting vote in two places by voters, or impersonation, would be considered an offence and could attract a one-year jail term.

Model polling booths

There are around 100 model polling booths in the jurisdiction of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike and at least 5 to 10 in each constituency across the State, where voters will be provided basic facilities such as chairs, fan and clean drinking water in a room adjacent to the polling station. Some volunteers will be deputed to assist the voters.

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