A press briefing, convened by former Minister and JD(S) MLA S.R. Mahesh, on Wednesday was called off at the eleventh hour after poll officials issued a fresh reminder of the ban on public campaigning.
Public campaigning has been banned from 6 p.m. on Tuesday till the conclusion of polling on Thursday. But, Mr. Mahesh had invited presspersons for a conference at his office at 11 a.m. on Wednesday. When some reporters reached the venue, he informed them that the briefing had been called off in view of the reminder by the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Mysuru Abhiram G. Sankar, who is also the District Election Officer.
He also apologised to the presspersons. Poll officials, including Mysuru Tahsildar Ramesh Babu, turned up at the press conference venue to ensure that the briefing was not held.
The Department of Information and Public Relations also issued a message to presspersons on Wednesday morning that coverage and telecast of programmes during the period amounts to violation of Section 126 of the Representation of People’s Act 1951.
Mr. Sankar said that political leaders are barred from addressing press conferences and giving media interviews from 6 p.m. of December 3 till the conclusion of polling on December 5 as per the provisions of the Act.
“During the period, star campaigners and other political leaders should refrain from addressing the media by way of press conferences and giving interviews on election matters,” said a message from the Information Department.
