Dakha by-election: District election officer holds meeting with candidates & their representatives

Ludhiana, October 19, 2019: In view of the Dakha By-election scheduled on October 21, the ongoing campaigning for Dakha Assembly By-election have come to an end at 6 pm today (October 19, 2019).
To make the candidates and their representatives aware about the extensive guidelines regarding Model Code of Conduct, District Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner Ludhiana Mr Pradeep Kumar Agrawal today held a special meeting with the candidates and their representatives in the presence of Observers.
While addressing the meeting, Mr Pradeep Kumar Agrawal informed that the guidelines have been issued in accordance with the provisions enacted in Section 126 Representation of Peoples’ Act 1951. According to the guidelines, the ongoing campaigning for Dakha Assembly By-election have come to an end 48 hours prior to the polling date, i.e. October 21, 2019. 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 Constituency should not be asked to leave the constituency during the election even if he/she is not an elector of the poll going constituency. Necessary guidelines have been issued to the Police and Civil Administration to ensure that the outsiders who are not required in the area, leave immediately, said Mr Agrawal.
He further informed that to ensure that the election is held in a peaceful manner, more than 400 security personnel of five commando battalions along with CRPF would be deputed in areas under Dakha Vidhan Sabha constituency. He informed that micro observers would be deputed in all polling stations, besides inside as well as outside videography would be carried out at 140 polling stations, and inside videography would be carried out in all 220 polling stations. He also appealed to the candidates/representatives to send lists of their polling stations immediately.
The District Election Officer 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 therein the constituency, in which they are the registered voters, till the poll day.
The Election Commission has also imposed a complete prohibition on broadcasting or propagating election-related material on TV, Radio or even Newspapers. Any such material influencing the voters would not be permissible during the 48 hours before the poll. However, any advertisement being published in the newspapers on October 20 & 21, 2019 requires prior permission or certification from the ECI, he stated.
Mr Pradeep Kumar Agrawal said that all the advertisements for the prospect of the candidates or the political party during the last 48 hours will be restricted. According to the guidelines, all the electronic media advertisement, including the bulk SMS, IVRS and social media have been completely banned for broadcasting during the last 48 hours ending with poll i.e. starting from 6 pm of October 19, 2019 to 6 pm of October 21, 2019. He said that all the print media advertisements to be published during the last 48 hours have got to be certified by the district-level Media Certification & Monitoring Committee (MCMC).
Adding further Mr Pradeep Kumar Agrawal said that all the political parties and the media have been advised to follow the directions strictly as per the guidelines of the ECI.
District Magistrate Mr Pradeep Kumar Agrawal has informed that the Excise & Taxation Commissioner Punjab has declared Dry Day in all the constituencies going for polls on October 21, 2019. The dry day has been declared in Dakha constituency of district Ludhiana from 6 pm on October 19 till 6 pm on October 21, 2019 and for complete day on October 24, 2019.
Mr Agrawal informed that this dry day would remain enforced in areas falling in radius of 3 km from Dakha Vidhan Sabha constituency as well. As per the orders, dry day would be observed in all hotels, liquor vends, taverns, beer/hard bars, dhabas, restaurants, clubs, marriage palaces, shops, public/private places. He said that no person can store liquor on these days and strict action would be taken against any person violating these orders.
SSP Ludhiana Rural Mr Sandeep Goyal said that every candidate, their representatives, political leaders, workers and all stakeholders have to follow the guidelines as per the Model Code of Conduct. He warned that strict action would be taken against anyone violating the Model Code of Conduct. He informed that the police has made adequate security arrangements for smooth and peaceful conduct of the by-election.