Now, no campaigning till poll ends

Ludhiana: The Election Commission of India on Friday issued extensive guidelines to the district election officers to ensure prohibitions of campaigning during a period of 48 hours (starting 6 pm on May 17) which will end on May 19.
Divulging details about this, district election officer, Ludhiana, Pradeep Kumar Agrawal said, “According to the guidelines, the ongoing campaigning for Ludhiana parliamentary constituency would not be allowed from May 17 to May 19. Subsequently all political leaders, functionaries or party workers who are not the registered voters will have to vacate the constituency within this period. Necessary guidelines have been issued to the police and civil administration to ensure that outsiders are not allowed in the area.”
Agrawal also directed the election and police administration to keep a close check on the community centres, guest houses and lodges so that outsiders, if any, could be kept housed without causing any disturbance during the electoral process. The identity cards of those who stay 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 would remain in the constituency in which they are the registered voters, till the poll day.
Agrawal said any kind of advertising in political interest will be restricted during the prohibition period. According to the guidelines, all electronic media advertisement for canvassing, including bulk SMS, IVRS and social media will also be banned. He said the print media advertisements to be published during the last 48 hours before the polls will have to be first certified by district-level Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC).