Campaign to stop at 4 p.m. tomorrow

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, MAY 6. The Elections Department has reminded political parties and candidates for the Assembly elections of the requirement of ending all forms of campaigning by 4 p.m on May 8, two days prior to actual polling.

Polling will be held for the Assembly elections as well as the Tiruchi Lok Sabha by-election on May 10.

No party or candidate should organise, participate or speak in any public meeting or procession within any Assembly or Lok Sabha constituency between May 8 (4 p.m) and May 10 (4 p.m), as per Sec.126 of the Representation of the People Act; no details of the election should be conveyed to be people through films, television or any such medium, or by organising any concerts, plays that could deal with the election.

Any violation of the code would entail imprisonment upto two years, the Chief Electoral Officer said in a release.

Publicising any detail about the elections or about a candidate, political leader or personality or party, or something which could influence a voter should also be avoided during the period.

Counting

The EC has, meanwhile, officially announced that counting of votes for the 234 Assembly constituencies and the Tiruchi Parliamentary constituency would begin at 8 a.m. on May 13.

The EC stated that for the sake of uniformity the political parties/candidates could use only blue or royal blue ink for printing unofficial identity slips in white paper for being issued to the voters. As some political parties/candidates had already undertaken printing of the unofficial identity slips in black ink before the decision of the Commission was communicated to them, the EC clarified that use of black colour ink, in addition to blue and royal blue might be permitted. But the unofficials identity-slips should be printed in white paper without any symbol, the CEO said.

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Section  : State Elections
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